For as long as life is in me,
And the breath of God is in my nostrils,

“For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off,
When God requires his life?

“As God lives, who has taken away my right,
And the Almighty, who has embittered my soul,

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

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

Then Job continued his discourse and said,

“He has built his house like the spider’s web,
Or as a hut which the watchman has made.

“Will he take delight in the Almighty?
Will he call on God at all times?

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

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

“Though he piles up silver like dust
And prepares garments as plentiful as the clay,

“Men will clap their hands at him
And will hiss him from his place.

“Terrors overtake him like a flood;
A tempest steals him away in the night.

“Will God hear his cry
When distress comes upon him?

“His survivors will be buried because of the plague,
And their widows will not be able to weep.

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

“He lies down rich, but never again;
He opens his eyes, and it is no longer.

“For it will hurl at him without sparing;
He will surely try to flee from its power.

“Though his sons are many, they are destined for the sword;
And his descendants will not be satisfied with bread.

“I will instruct you in the power of God;
What is with the Almighty I will not conceal.

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

“May my enemy be as the wicked
And my opponent as the unjust.

“Behold, all of you have seen it;
Why then do you act foolishly?