Job 27
Common English Bible
Job rejects Bildad’s argument
27 Then Job took up his topic again:
2 As God lives, who rejected my legal claim,
the Almighty, who made me bitter,
3 as long as breath is in me
and God’s breath is in my nostrils—
4 my lips will utter no wickedness;
my tongue will mumble no deceit.
5 I will not agree that you are right.
Until my dying day, I won’t give up my integrity.
6 I will insist on my innocence, never surrendering it;
my conscience will never blame me for what I have done.[a]
Job curses his enemies
7 Let my enemy be like the wicked,
my opposition like the vicious.
8 For what hope has the godless when God cuts them off,
when he takes them away.
9 Will God hear their cries
when distress comes to them;
10 will they delight in the Almighty,
call God at any time?
Job’s view of his enemies’ fate
11 I will teach you God’s power,
not hide what pertains to the Almighty.
12 Look, those of you who recognize this—
why then this empty talk?
13 This is the wicked’s portion with God,
the inheritance that the ruthless receive from the Almighty.
14 If their children increase, they belong to the sword;
their offspring won’t have enough bread.
15 Their survivors will be buried with the dead;
their widows won’t weep.
16 If they store up silver like dust,
amass clothing like clay,
17 they may amass, but the righteous will wear it;
the innocent will divide the silver.
18 They built their houses like nests,
like a hut made by a watchman.
19 They lie down rich, but no longer;
open their eyes, but it’s missing.
20 Terrors overtake them like waters;
a tempest snatches them by night;
21 an east wind lifts them, and they are gone,
removes them from their places,
22 throws itself on them without mercy;
they flee desperately from its force.
23 It claps its hands over them,
hisses at them from their place.
Footnotes
- Job 27:6 Or for my days
Job 27
New King James Version
Job Maintains His Integrity
27 Moreover Job continued his discourse, and said:
2 “As God lives, (A)who has taken away my justice,
And the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter,
3 As long as my breath is in me,
And the breath of God in my nostrils,
4 My lips will not speak wickedness,
Nor my tongue utter deceit.
5 Far be it from me
That I should say you are right;
Till I die (B)I will not put away my integrity from me.
6 My righteousness I (C)hold fast, and will not let it go;
(D)My heart shall not [a]reproach me as long as I live.
7 “May my enemy be like the wicked,
And he who rises up against me like the unrighteous.
8 (E)For what is the hope of the hypocrite,
Though he may gain much,
If God takes away his life?
9 (F)Will God hear his cry
When trouble comes upon him?
10 (G)Will he delight himself in the Almighty?
Will he always call on God?
11 “I will teach you [b]about the hand of God;
What is with the Almighty I will not conceal.
12 Surely all of you have seen it;
Why then do you behave with complete nonsense?
13 “This(H) is the portion of a wicked man with God,
And the heritage of oppressors, received from the Almighty:
14 (I)If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword;
And his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
15 Those who survive him shall be buried in death,
And (J)their[c] widows shall not weep,
16 Though he heaps up silver like dust,
And piles up clothing like clay—
17 He may pile it up, but (K)the just will wear it,
And the innocent will divide the silver.
18 He builds his house like a [d]moth,
(L)Like a [e]booth which a watchman makes.
19 The rich man will lie down,
[f]But not be gathered up;
He opens his eyes,
And he is (M)no more.
20 (N)Terrors overtake him like a flood;
A tempest steals him away in the night.
21 The east wind carries him away, and he is gone;
It sweeps him out of his place.
22 It hurls against him and does not (O)spare;
He flees desperately from its [g]power.
23 Men shall clap their hands at him,
And shall hiss him out of his place.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
