Job Asserts His Innocence

1Job continued with his discussion and said:

2“The living God has withheld justice from me;

the Almighty has made my lifea bitter.

3As long as I can breathe;

as long as God’s breath is in my nostrils,

4I won’t speak lies

nor will I utter deceit.

5Far be it from me to admit that you’re right!

I intend to maintain my integrityb even if it kills me!

6I’ll retain my righteousness and not compromise it;

my conscience won’t rebuke me at any time.

7“May my enemy be like the wicked;

my adversary like the unjust.c

8For where is the hope of the godless when he is eliminated;

when God takes away his life?

9Will God hear his cry

when distress overtakes him?

10Will he take delight in the Almighty?

Will he call on God at all times?”

On the Demise of the Wicked

11“I’ll teach you about the powerd of God,

that which is with the Almighty I won’t conceal.

12Look! All of you have been watching,

so why have you become so completely worthless?

13“This is what a wicked persone inherits from God,

and what the ruthless will receive from the Almighty:

14If he has many children,

their destiny is to die by the sword,

and his descendants won’t have enough food.

15Those who do survive him disease will bury,

and his widow won’t even weep.

16“Though he hoards silverf like dust,

and stores away garments like clay,

17whatever he stores up, the righteous will wear,

and the innocent will inherit that silver!

18“He has built his house like a moth’s cocoon,g

like a temporaryh sunshade that a watchman makes.

19He will go to bed wealthy,

but won’t be doing that anymore!

When he opens his eyes, it will be gone!

20Terror will overtake him like a flood,i

at night, a tornado will sweep him away.

21He’ll be swept up by a stormj wind and carried away;

he’ll be whirled away from his place.

22It will toss him around without pity.

He’ll try to break freek from its grip,l

23but it will clap its hands over him,

hissing at him as it lunges toward him.”m