Job 27:1-12

New International Version

Job’s Final Word to His Friends

27 And Job continued his discourse:^(A)

²“As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice,^(B)
    the Almighty,^(C) who has made my life bitter,^(D)
³as long as I have life within me,
    the breath of God^(E) in my nostrils,
⁴my lips will not say anything wicked,
    and my tongue will not utter lies.^(F)
⁵I will never admit you are in the right;
    till I die, I will not deny my integrity.^(G)
⁶I will maintain my innocence^(H) and never let go of it;
    my conscience^(I) will not reproach me as long as I live.^(J)

⁷“May my enemy be like the wicked,^(K)
    my adversary^(L) like the unjust!
⁸For what hope have the godless^(M) when they are cut off,
    when God takes away their life?^(N)
⁹Does God listen to their cry
    when distress comes upon them?^(O)
¹⁰Will they find delight in the Almighty?^(P)
    Will they call on God at all times?

¹¹“I will teach you about the power of God;
the ways^(Q) of the Almighty I will not conceal.^(R)
¹²You have all seen this yourselves.
Why then this meaningless talk?