Book of Job, chapter 27 – The Bible, Old Testament

Job persists in asserting his own innocence, and that hypocrites will be punished in the end.

[1] Job also added, taking up his parable, and said: [2] As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment, and the Almighty, who hath brought my soul to bitterness, [3] As long as breath remaineth in me, and the spirit of God in my nostrils, [4] My lips shall not speak iniquity, neither shall my tongue contrive lying. [5] God forbid that I should judge you to be just: till I die I will not depart from my innocence.

[6] My justification, which I have begun to hold, I will not forsake: for my heart doth not reprehend me in all my life. [7] Let my enemy be as the ungodly, and my adversary as the wicked one. [8] For what is the hope of the hypocrite if through covetousness he take by violence, and God deliver not his soul? [9] Will God hear his cry, when distress shall come upon him? [10] Or can he delight himself in the Almighty, and call upon God at all times?

[11] I will teach you by the hand of God, what the Almighty hath, and I will not conceal it. [12] Behold you all know it, and why do you speak vain things without cause? [13] This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the inheritance of the violent, which they shall receive of the Almighty. [14] If his sons be multiplied, they shall be for the sword, and his grandsons shall not be filled with bread. [15] They that shall remain of him, shall be buried in death, and his widows shall not weep.

[16] If he shall heap together silver as earth, and prepare raiment as clay, [17] He shall prepare indeed, but the just man shall be clothed with it: and the innocent shall divide the silver. [18] He hath built his house as a moth, and as a keeper he hath made a booth. [19] The rich man when he shall sleep shall take away nothing with him: he shall open his eyes and find nothing. [20] Poverty like water shall take hold on him, a tempest shall oppress him in the night.

[21] A burning wind shall take him up, and carry him away, and as a whirlwind shall snatch him from his place. [22] And he shall cast upon him, and shall not spare: out of his hand he would willingly flee. [23] He shall clasp his hands upon him, and shall hiss at him, beholding his place.