Job Affirms his Integrity

1Job again took up his parable, and said,

2“As God lives, who has taken away my right, the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter

3(for the length of my life is still in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils);

4surely my lips will not speak unrighteousness, neither will my tongue utter deceit.

5Far be it from me that I should justify you. Until I die I will not put away my integrity from me.

6I hold fast to my righteousness, and will not let it go. My heart will not reproach me so long as I live.

The State of the Godless

7“Let my enemy be as the wicked. Let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous.

8For what is the hope of the godless, when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?

9Will God hear his cry when trouble comes on him?

10Will he delight himself in the Almighty, and call on God at all times?

11I will teach you about the hand of God. I will not conceal that which is with the Almighty.

12Behold, all of you have seen it yourselves; why then have you become altogether vain?

13“This is the portion of a wicked man with God, the heritage of oppressors, which they receive from the Almighty.

14If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword. His offspring will not be satisfied with bread.

15Those who remain of him will be buried in death. His widows will make no lamentation.

16Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare clothing as the clay;

17he may prepare it, but the just will put it on, and the innocent will divide the silver.

18He builds his house as the moth, as a booth which the watchman makes.

19He lies down rich, but he will not do so again. He opens his eyes, and he is not.

20Terrors overtake him like waters. A storm steals him away in the night.

21The east wind carries him away, and he departs. It sweeps him out of his place.

22For it hurls at him, and does not spare, as he flees away from his hand.

23Men will clap their hands at him, and will hiss him out of his place.