^1. THEN Job [1] continued his discourse and said,

^2. �As God lives, who has taken away my right, And the Almighty, who has embittered my soul,

^3. For as long as [3] life is in me, And the [2] breath of God is in my nostrils,

^4. My lips certainly will not speak unjustly, Nor will my tongue mutter deceit.

^5. �Far be it from me that I should declare you right; Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.

^6. �I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go. My heart does not reproach any of my days.

^7. �May my enemy be as the wicked And [4] my opponent as the unjust.

^8. �For what is the hope of the godless [6] when he is cut off, When God requires his [5] life?

^9. �Will God hear his cry When distress comes upon him?

^10. �Will he take delight in the Almighty? Will he call on God at all times?

^11. �I will instruct you in the [7] power of God; What is with the Almighty I will not conceal.

^12. �Behold, all of you have seen it; Why then do you [8] act foolishly?

^13. �This is the portion of a wicked man from God, And the inheritance which tyrants receive from the Almighty.

^14. �Though his sons are many, [9] they are destined for the sword; And his descendants will not be satisfied with bread.

^15. �His survivors will be buried because of the plague, And [10] their widows will not be able to weep.

^16. �Though he piles up silver like dust And prepares garments as plentiful as the clay,

^17. He may prepare it, but the just will wear it And the innocent will divide the silver.

^18. �He has built his house like the [11] spider's web, Or as a hut which the watchman has made.

^19. �He lies down rich, but never [12] again; He opens his eyes, and it is no longer.

^20. � Terrors overtake him like a flood; A tempest steals him away in the night.

^21. �The east wind carries him away, and he is gone, For it whirls him away from his place.

^22. �For it will hurl at him without sparing; He will surely try to flee from its [13] power.

^23. �Men will clap their hands at him And will hiss him from his place.