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Job Affirms His Integrity

¹ Job continued his discourse:² “As surely as God lives, who has deprived me of justice—the Almighty, who has embittered my soul—³ as long as my breath is still within me and the breath of God remains in my nostrils,⁴ my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will not utter deceit.⁵ I will never say that you are right; I will maintain my integrity until I die.⁶ I will hold fast my righteousness and never let go. As long as I live, my conscience will not accuse me.

The Wicked Man’s Portion

⁷ May my enemy be like the wicked and my opponent like the unjust.⁸ For what hope has the godless when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?⁹ Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him?¹⁰ Will he delight in the Almighty? Will he call upon God at all times?

¹¹ I will instruct you in the power of God. I will not conceal the ways of the Almighty.¹² Surely all of you have seen it for yourselves. Why then do you keep up this empty talk?¹³ This is the wicked man’s portion from God—the heritage the ruthless receive from the Almighty.¹⁴ Though his sons are many, they are destined for the sword; and his offspring will never have enough food.¹⁵ His survivors will be buried by the plague, and their widows will not weep for them.¹⁶ Though he heaps up silver like dust and piles up a wardrobe like clay,¹⁷ what he lays up, the righteous will wear, and his silver will be divided by the innocent.¹⁸ The house he built is like a moth’s cocoon, like a hut set up by a watchman.¹⁹ He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more; when he opens his eyes, all is gone.²⁰ Terrors overtake him like a flood; a tempest sweeps 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 without mercy, while he flees headlong from its power.²³ It claps its hands at him and hisses him out of his place.