Add parallel Print Page Options

27 Moreover Iyov continued his mashal, and said,

As El liveth, Who hath taken away my mishpat, and Shaddai, Who hath saddened my nefesh;

All the while my neshamah is in me, and the ruach of Eloah is in my nostrils,

My lips shall not speak falsehood, nor my leshon utter deceit.

Far be it from me I should justify you; till I die I will not remove mine tom (integrity) from me.

My tzedakah I hold fast, and will not let it go; my lev shall not reproach for any of my days.

Let mine enemy be as the rasha (evildoer), and he that riseth up against me as unrighteous.

For what is the tikveh of the chanef, when He cutteth off, when Eloah taketh away, his nefesh?

Will El hear his cry when tzarah cometh upon him?

10 Will he delight himself in Shaddai? Will he always call upon Eloah?

11 I will teach you concerning the yad El; that which is with Shaddai will I not conceal.

12 Hen (behold), all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?

13 This is the chelek (lot) of the adam rasha with El and the nachalah of oppressors, which they shall receive from Shaddai.

14 If his banim be multiplied, it is for the cherev, and his offspring shall not have lechem enough.

15 Those that survive him shall be buried in mavet, and his almanot shall not weep.

16 Though he heap up kesef as the aphar, and pile up raiment as the clay,

17 He may prepare it, but the tzaddik shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the kesef.

18 He buildeth his bais as a moth, and as a sukkah that the watchman maketh.

19 The oisher (rich man) shall lie down, but he shall do so no more; he openeth his eyes, and he is not.

20 Terrors take hold on him as a flood, a tempest stealeth him away in the lailah.

21 The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth as a storm hurleth him forth from his makom.

22 For it will hurl against him, without sparing; he desperately flees from its yad.

23 Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him away from his makom.

Job’s Final Word to His Friends

27 And Job continued his discourse:(A)

“As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice,(B)
    the Almighty,(C) who has made my life bitter,(D)
as long as I have life within me,
    the breath of God(E) in my nostrils,
my lips will not say anything wicked,
    and my tongue will not utter lies.(F)
I will never admit you are in the right;
    till I die, I will not deny my integrity.(G)
I will maintain my innocence(H) and never let go of it;
    my conscience(I) will not reproach me as long as I live.(J)

“May my enemy be like the wicked,(K)
    my adversary(L) like the unjust!
For what hope have the godless(M) when they are cut off,
    when God takes away their life?(N)
Does God listen to their cry
    when distress comes upon them?(O)
10 Will they find delight in the Almighty?(P)
    Will they call on God at all times?

11 “I will teach you about the power of God;
    the ways(Q) of the Almighty I will not conceal.(R)
12 You have all seen this yourselves.
    Why then this meaningless talk?

13 “Here is the fate God allots to the wicked,
    the heritage a ruthless man receives from the Almighty:(S)
14 However many his children,(T) their fate is the sword;(U)
    his offspring will never have enough to eat.(V)
15 The plague will bury those who survive him,
    and their widows will not weep for them.(W)
16 Though he heaps up silver like dust(X)
    and clothes like piles of clay,(Y)
17 what he lays up(Z) the righteous will wear,(AA)
    and the innocent will divide his silver.(AB)
18 The house(AC) he builds is like a moth’s cocoon,(AD)
    like a hut(AE) made by a watchman.
19 He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more;(AF)
    when he opens his eyes, all is gone.(AG)
20 Terrors(AH) overtake him like a flood;(AI)
    a tempest snatches him away in the night.(AJ)
21 The east wind(AK) carries him off, and he is gone;(AL)
    it sweeps him out of his place.(AM)
22 It hurls itself against him without mercy(AN)
    as he flees headlong(AO) from its power.(AP)
23 It claps its hands(AQ) in derision
    and hisses him out of his place.”(AR)