Job
Summary
Job Chapter 27 finds Job continuing his discourse with a solemn oath, swearing by the living God that he will not speak wickedness or remove his integrity from himself. He refuses to justify his friends' accusations and maintains his righteousness to the end. In the second half of the chapter, Job seems to describe the fate of the wicked: that their children are destined for the sword and their wealth for others. This passage is highly debated, as Job appears to use the same arguments as his friends, perhaps to show that he, too, understands their logic but knows it does not apply to his own case.
And Job continued his discourse:
"As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice, the Almighty, who has made my life bitter,"
"as long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils,"
"my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will utter no deceit."
"I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity."
"I will maintain my righteousness and never let it go; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live."
"May my enemies be like the wicked, his adversaries like the unjust!"
"For what hope have the godless when they are cut off, when God takes away their life?"
"Does God listen to their cry when distress comes upon them?"
"Will they find delight in the Almighty? Will they call on God at all times?"
"I will teach you about the power of God; the ways of the Almighty I will not conceal."
"You have all seen these things yourselves. Why then this meaningless talk?"
"Here is the fate God allots to the wicked, the heritage a ruthless man receives from the Almighty:"
"However many his children, their fate is the sword; his offspring will never have enough to eat."
"The plague will bury those who survive him, and their widows will not weep for them."
"Though he heaps up silver like dust and piles up clothing like clay,"
"what he lays up the righteous will wear, and the innocent will divide his silver."
"The house he builds is like a moth’s cocoon, like a hut made by a watchman."
"He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more; when he opens his eyes, all is gone."
"Terrors overtake him like a flood; a tempest snatches him away in the night."
"The east wind carries him off, and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place."
"It hurls itself against him without mercy as he flees headlong from its power."
"It claps its hands in derision and hisses him out of his place."