איוב כז

Job again took up his theme and said:

By God who has deprived me of justice!
By Shaddai who has embittered my life!

As long as there is life in me,
And God’s breath is in my nostrils,

My lips will speak no wrong,
Nor my tongue utter deceit.

Far be it from me to say you are right;
Until I die I will maintain my integrity.

I persist in my righteousness and will not yield;
I shall be free of reproach as long as I live.

May my enemy be as the wicked;
My assailant, as the wrongdoer.

For what hope has the impious man when he is cut down,
When God takes away his life?

Will God hear his cry
When trouble comes upon him,

When he seeks the favor of Shaddai,
Calls upon God at all times?

I will teach you what is in God’s power,
And what is with Shaddai I will not conceal.

All of you have seen it,
So why talk nonsense?

This is the evil man’s portion from God,
The lot that the ruthless receive from Shaddai:

Should he have many children—they are marked for the sword;
His descendants will never have their fill of bread;

Those who survive him will be buried in a plague,
And their widows will not weep;

Should he pile up silver like dust,
Lay up clothing like dirt—

He may lay it up, but the righteous will wear it,
And the innocent will share the silver.

The house he built is like a bird’s nest,
Like the booth a watchman makes.

He lies down, a rich man, with [his wealth] intact;
When he opens his eyes it is gone.

Terror overtakes him like a flood;
A storm wind makes off with him by night.

The east wind carries him far away, and he is gone;
It sweeps him from his place.

Then it hurls itself at him without mercy;
He tries to escape from its force.

It claps its hands at him,
And whistles at him from its place.