[1] Job continued his discourse, saying: [2] As God lives, who has deprived me of justice, and the Almighty who has made me bitter, [3] as long as my breath is still in me and the breath from God remains in my nostrils, [4] my lips will not speak unjustly, and my tongue will not utter deceit. [5] I will never affirm that you are right. I will maintain my integrity until I die. [6] I will cling to my righteousness and never let it go. My conscience will not accuse me as long as I live! [7] May my enemy be like the wicked and my opponent like the unjust. [8] For what hope does the godless person have when he is cut off, when God takes away his life? [9] Will God hear his cry when distress comes on him? [10] Will he delight in the Almighty? Will he call on God at all times? [11] I will teach you about God's power. I will not conceal what the Almighty has planned. [12] All of you have seen this for yourselves, why do you keep up this empty talk? [13] This is a wicked man's lot from God, the inheritance the ruthless receive from the Almighty. [14] Even if his children increase, they are destined for the sword; his descendants will never have enough food. [15] Those who survive him will be buried by the plague, yet their widows will not weep for them. [16] Though he piles up silver like dust and heaps up fine clothing like clay- [17] he may heap it up, but the righteous will wear it, and the innocent will divide up his silver. [18] The house he built is like a moth's cocoon or a shelter set up by a watchman. [19] He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more; when he opens his eyes, it is gone. [20] Terrors overtake him like a flood; a storm wind sweeps him away at night. [21] An east wind picks him up, and he is gone; it carries him away from his place. [22] It blasts at him without mercy, while he flees desperately from its force. [23] It claps its hands at him and scoffs at him from its place.
