27 Job continued his discourse, saying:

2 As God lives, who has deprived me of justice, f

and the * Almighty who has made me bitter, g

3 as long as my breath is still in me

and the breath from God remains in my nostrils, h

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 i j until I die.

6 I will cling to my righteousness and never let it go.

My conscience k 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 man l have when he is cut off,

when God takes away his life? m

9 Will God hear his cry

when distress comes on him?

10 Will he delight n 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. o

12 All of you have seen this for yourselves,

why do you keep up this empty talk? p

13 This is a wicked man’s lot q 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. r

16 Though he piles up silver like dust

and heaps up a wardrobe like clay—

17 he may heap it up, but the righteous will wear it,

and the innocent will divide up his silver. s

18 The house he built is like a moth’s cocoon

or a booth set up by a watchman. t

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; u

a storm v 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 grasp.

23 It claps w its hands at him

and scorns him from its place.