[1] Then Job took up his topic again: [2] As God lives, who rejected my legal claim, the Almighty, who made me bitter, [3] as long as breath is in me and God’s breath is in my nostrils— [4] my lips will utter no wickedness; my tongue will mumble no deceit. [5] I will not agree that you are right. Until my dying day, I won’t give up my integrity. [6] I will insist on my innocence, never surrendering it; my conscience will never blame me for what I have done. [7] Let my enemy be like the wicked, my opposition like the vicious. [8] For what hope has the godless when God cuts them off, when he takes them away. [9] Will God hear their cries when distress comes to them; [10] will they delight in the Almighty, call God at any time? [11] I will teach you God’s power, not hide what pertains to the Almighty. [12] Look, those of you who recognize this—why then this empty talk? [13] This is the wicked’s portion with God, the inheritance that the ruthless receive from the Almighty. [14] If their children increase, they belong to the sword; their offspring won’t have enough bread. [15] Their survivors will be buried with the dead; their widows won’t weep. [16] If they store up silver like dust, amass clothing like clay, [17] they may amass, but the righteous will wear it; the innocent will divide the silver. [18] They built their houses like nests, like a hut made by a watchman. [19] They lie down rich, but no longer; open their eyes, but it’s missing. [20] Terrors overtake them like waters; a tempest snatches them by night; [21] an east wind lifts them, and they are gone, removes them from their places, [22] throws itself on them without mercy; they flee desperately from its force. [23] It claps its hands over them, hisses at them from their place.
