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Job Continues: I Insist I Am Innocent

27 Job continued his poems and said,

“I swear an oath
by God, the one who has taken away my rights,
by the Almighty, who has made my life bitter:
‘As long as there is one breath ⌞left⌟ in me
and God’s breath fills my nostrils,
my lips will not say anything wrong,
and my tongue will not mumble anything deceitful.’
It’s unthinkable for me to admit that you are right.
Until I breathe my last breath, I will never give up my claim of integrity.
I cling to my righteousness and won’t let go.
My conscience won’t accuse me as long as I live.

“Let my enemy be ⌞treated⌟ like wicked people.
Let anyone who attacks me be ⌞treated⌟ like unrighteous people.
After all, what hope does the godless person have when he is cut off,
when God takes away his life?
Will God hear his cry when trouble comes upon him?
10 Can he be happy with the Almighty?
Can he call on God at all times?

What God Has in Store for Wicked People

11 “I will teach you about God’s power.
I will not hide what the Almighty has done.
12 Certainly, you have all seen it.
Why then do you chatter on about such nonsense?
13 This is what God has waiting for the wicked person,
the inheritance that tyrants receive from the Almighty:
14 If he has many children, swords will kill them,
and his descendants won’t have enough food.
15 Those who survive him will be buried by a plague,
and their widows won’t cry ⌞for them⌟.
16 Though he collects silver like dust
and piles up clothing like dirt,
17 righteous people will wear what he piles up,
and the innocent will divide the silver ⌞among themselves⌟.
18 He builds his house like a moth,
like a shack that a watchman makes.
19 He may go to bed rich, but he’ll never be rich again.
When he opens his eyes, nothing will be left.
20 Terrors overtake him like a flood.
A windstorm snatches him away at night.
21 The east wind carries him away, and he’s gone.
It sweeps him from his place.
22 It hurls itself at him without mercy.
He flees from its power.
23 It claps its hands over him.
It whistles at him from his own place.

Job’s Final Word to His Friends

27 And Job continued his discourse:(A)

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

“May my enemy be like the wicked,(K)
    my adversary(L) like the unjust!
For what hope have the godless(M) when they are cut off,
    when God takes away their life?(N)
Does God listen to their cry
    when distress comes upon them?(O)
10 Will 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)
12 You have all seen this yourselves.
    Why then this meaningless talk?

13 “Here is the fate God allots to the wicked,
    the heritage a ruthless man receives from the Almighty:(S)
14 However many his children,(T) their fate is the sword;(U)
    his offspring will never have enough to eat.(V)
15 The plague will bury those who survive him,
    and their widows will not weep for them.(W)
16 Though he heaps up silver like dust(X)
    and clothes like piles of clay,(Y)
17 what he lays up(Z) the righteous will wear,(AA)
    and the innocent will divide his silver.(AB)
18 The house(AC) he builds is like a moth’s cocoon,(AD)
    like a hut(AE) made by a watchman.
19 He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more;(AF)
    when he opens his eyes, all is gone.(AG)
20 Terrors(AH) overtake him like a flood;(AI)
    a tempest snatches him away in the night.(AJ)
21 The east wind(AK) carries him off, and he is gone;(AL)
    it sweeps him out of his place.(AM)
22 It hurls itself against him without mercy(AN)
    as he flees headlong(AO) from its power.(AP)
23 It claps its hands(AQ) in derision
    and hisses him out of his place.”(AR)

27 Nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita si Job, “Sumusumpa ako sa Makapangyarihan at buhay na Dios na nagkait ng katarungan at nagdulot sa akin ng sama ng loob. Habang akoʼy may hininga at pinapahintulutan niyang mabuhay, hindi ako magsasalita ng masama at kasinungalingan. Hinding-hindi ko matatanggap na tama kayo. Ipipilit ko pa rin na wala akong kasalanan hanggang sa mamatay ako. Ipaglalaban kong tama ako, at hindi ako titigil. Malinis ang aking konsensya habang akoʼy nabubuhay.

“Parusahan nawa ng Dios ang mga kumakalaban sa akin ng parusang nararapat sa masasamang tao! Sapagkat ano ang pag-asa ng taong walang takot sa Dios kung bawiin na ng Dios ang kanyang buhay? Didinggin kaya ng Dios ang paghingi niya ng tulong kung dumating sa kanya ang kagipitan? 10 Matutuwa kaya siya sa Makapangyarihang Dios? Tatawag kaya siya sa kanya sa lahat ng oras?

11 “Tuturuan ko sana kayo ng tungkol sa kapangyarihan ng Dios. Sasabihin ko sa inyo ang mga pamamaraan niya. 12 Pero alam na pala ninyo ang lahat ng ito. Kaya bakit pa kayo nagsasalita sa akin ng walang kabuluhan?

13 “Ito ang kapalaran na itinakda ng Makapangyarihang Dios sa taong masama at malupit. 14 Kahit gaano kadami ang anak niya, mamamatay ang iba sa kanila sa digmaan at ang iba naman ay sa gutom. 15 Ang matitira sa kanila ay mamamatay sa sakit, at walang magluluksa sa pagkamatay nila, kahit ang kanilang mga asawa.

16 “Kahit mag-ipon ng maraming pilak at damit ang masamang tao, 17 hindi rin siya ang makikinabang nito. Ang matutuwid at walang kasalanan ang magsusuot ng kanyang mga damit at ang maghahati-hati sa kanyang mga pilak. 18 Ang itinatayo niyang bahay ay magiging kasinrupok ng sapot ng gagamba o kayaʼy silungan ng tagapagbantay sa bukid. 19 Matutulog siyang mayaman pero paggising niyaʼy wala na ang kanyang kayamanan. 20 Darating sa kanya ang takot na parang rumaragasang baha at tatangayin siya ng ipu-ipo pagsapit ng gabi. 21 Tatangayin siya ng hangin na mula sa silangan at mawawala siya sa kanyang tirahan. 22 Walang awa siyang tatangayin nito habang pinipilit niyang makatakas. 23 May mga papalakpak at susutsot sa kanya para mangutya, dahil wala na siya sa kanyang tinitirhan.