Job Affirms his Integrity

1And Job again took up his parable, and said,

2As God liveth, who hath taken away my right; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;

3(For my life is yet whole in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;)

4Surely my lips shall not speak unrighteousness, neither shall my tongue utter deceit.

5God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not put away mine integrity from me.

6My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

The State of the Godless

7Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and let him that riseth up against me be as the unrighteous.

8For what is the hope of the godless, though he get him gain, when God taketh away his soul?

9Will God hear his cry, when trouble cometh upon him?

10Will he delight himself in the Almighty, and call upon God at all times?

11I will teach you concerning the hand of God; that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

12Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye become altogether vain?

13This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they receive from the Almighty.

14If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword; and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.

15Those that remain of him shall be buried in death, and his widows shall make no lamentation.

16Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;

17He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.

18He buildeth his house as the moth, and as a booth which the keeper maketh.

19He lieth down rich, but he shall not be gathered; he openeth his eyes, and he is not.

20Terrors overtake him like waters; a tempest stealeth him away in the night.

21The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth; and it sweepeth him out of his place.

22For God shall hurl at him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.

23Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.