[1] And Job took up his discourse again: [2] "As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice, the Almighty, who has made my life bitter- [3] for while my spirit is still in me, and the breath from God is in my nostrils, [4] my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will whisper no deceit. [5] I will never declare that you three are in the right; until I die, I will not set aside my integrity! [6] I will maintain my righteousness and never let it go; my conscience will not reproach me for as long as I live. [7] "May my enemy be like the wicked, my adversary like the unrighteous. [8] For what hope does the godless have when he is cut off, when God takes away his life? [9] Does God listen to his cry when distress overtakes him? [10] Will he find delight in the Almighty? Will he call out to God at all times? [11] I will teach you about the power of God; what is on the Almighty's mind I will not conceal. [12] If you yourselves have all seen this, Why in the world do you continue this meaningless talk? [13] This is the portion of the wicked man allotted by God, the inheritance that evildoers receive from the Almighty. [14] If his children increase-it is for the sword! His offspring never have enough to eat. [15] Those who survive him are buried by the plague, and their widows do not mourn for them. [16] If he piles up silver like dust and stores up clothing like mounds of clay, [17] what he stores up a righteous man will wear, and an innocent man will inherit his silver. [18] The house he builds is as fragile as a moth's cocoon, like a hut that a watchman has made. [19] He goes to bed wealthy, but will do so no more. When he opens his eyes, it is all gone. [20] Terrors overwhelm him like a flood; at night a whirlwind carries him off. [21] The east wind carries him away, and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place. [22] It hurls itself against him without pity as he flees headlong from its power. [23] It claps its hands at him in derision and hisses him away from his place.
