1And Job again took up his parable, and said:
2As God lives (chai), who has taken away my judgment (mishpat), and Shaddai, who has made bitter my soul (nephesh);
3For as long as my breath (neshamah) is in me, and the spirit (ruach) of God is in my nostrils,
4My lips shall not speak iniquity, and my tongue shall not utter deceit.
5Far be it from me that I should justify you; until I expire I will not put away my integrity from me.
6My righteousness I hold fast, and I will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me for my days.
7Let my enemy be as the wicked, and he who rises up against me as the unjust.
8For what is the hope of the godless, though he gains, when God draws out his soul (nephesh)?
9Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him?
10Will he delight himself in Shaddai? Will he call upon God at all times?
11I will teach you concerning the hand of God; that which is with Shaddai I will not conceal.
12Behold, all of you yourselves have seen it; and why then do you become utterly vain?
13This is the portion of a wicked man (adam) with God, and the heritage of oppressors which they receive from Shaddai.
14If his sons are multiplied, it is for the sword; and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
15His survivors shall be buried by death, and his widows shall not weep.
16Though he heap up silver as the dust (aphar), and prepare clothing as the clay;
17He prepares it, but the righteous shall put it on, and the silver the innocent shall divide.
18He builds his house like the moth, and like a booth that a watchman makes.
19Rich he lies down, but he shall not be gathered; he opens his eyes, and he is not.
20Terrors overtake him like waters; in the night a tempest steals him away.
21The east wind lifts him up, and he goes; and it sweeps him out of his place.
22And it hurls itself against him and does not spare; from its hand he would surely flee.
23It claps its hands over him, and hisses at him from its place.