Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;
All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;
My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.
God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.
My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.
For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?
Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?
I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.
Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?
This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.
If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.
Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;
He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.
He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh.
The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not.
Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.
The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.
For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.
Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.
Job 27 marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing dialogue between Job and his friends. Following Bildad's brief and somewhat lackluster contribution in Job 25 (which one might interpret as a sign of dwindling arguments), Job seizes the opportunity to reaffirm his innocence and offer a contrasting perspective on the fate of the wicked. He continues from his powerful portrayal of God's majesty in Job 26, transitioning into a firm declaration of his own integrity and a contemplation of divine justice.
Job's Unwavering Integrity (Job 27:1-6)
Job begins by emphatically rejecting the accusations leveled against him by his companions. He vows to maintain his integrity, stating in Job 27:5, "I will never admit you are right." This is not mere stubbornness; it's a commitment to truth and a refusal to compromise his conscience. Job understands that to concede to his friends' accusations would be to betray his own understanding of justice and his relationship with God. He declares he will hold fast to his righteousness and not let it go (Job 27:6), emphasizing the profound importance of inner integrity, even in the face of immense suffering and societal pressure. This passage provides a powerful example of faith amidst adversity and a challenge to the reader to stand firm in their convictions.
The Fate of the Wicked (Job 27:7-23)
Having established his own innocence, Job turns his attention to the destiny of the wicked. He questions the hope of the godless when God takes away their life (Job 27:8). While the wicked may appear to prosper in this life, Job asserts that a day of reckoning is coming (Job 27:13-23). This section highlights the ultimate futility of wickedness, reminding us that earthly success is fleeting and that true reward lies in aligning oneself with God's will.
Job's words serve as a warning against prioritizing earthly gain over eternal values. He paints a vivid picture of the ultimate fate of those who disregard God's law, emphasizing the temporary nature of worldly prosperity and the certainty of divine judgment. This contrast between Job's integrity and the fate of the wicked provides a framework for understanding the importance of moral choices and their eternal consequences.
This chapter in Job serves as a powerful reminder that integrity matters, even when it seems that wickedness prospers. Job's unwavering commitment to truth, coupled with his insight into the destiny of the ungodly, provides both a challenge and an encouragement to those seeking to live a life of faith. Job 27 urges us to examine our own hearts, ensuring that our actions are aligned with God's will and that our hope is firmly rooted in Him.
Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;
All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;
My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.
God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.
My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.
For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?
Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?
I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.
Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?
This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.
If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.
Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;
He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.
He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh.
The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not.
Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.
The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.
For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.
Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.
Job 27 marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing dialogue between Job and his friends. Following Bildad's brief and somewhat lackluster contribution in Job 25 (which one might interpret as a sign of dwindling arguments), Job seizes the opportunity to reaffirm his innocence and offer a contrasting perspective on the fate of the wicked. He continues from his powerful portrayal of God's majesty in Job 26, transitioning into a firm declaration of his own integrity and a contemplation of divine justice.
Job's Unwavering Integrity (Job 27:1-6)
Job begins by emphatically rejecting the accusations leveled against him by his companions. He vows to maintain his integrity, stating in Job 27:5, "I will never admit you are right." This is not mere stubbornness; it's a commitment to truth and a refusal to compromise his conscience. Job understands that to concede to his friends' accusations would be to betray his own understanding of justice and his relationship with God. He declares he will hold fast to his righteousness and not let it go (Job 27:6), emphasizing the profound importance of inner integrity, even in the face of immense suffering and societal pressure. This passage provides a powerful example of faith amidst adversity and a challenge to the reader to stand firm in their convictions.
The Fate of the Wicked (Job 27:7-23)
Having established his own innocence, Job turns his attention to the destiny of the wicked. He questions the hope of the godless when God takes away their life (Job 27:8). While the wicked may appear to prosper in this life, Job asserts that a day of reckoning is coming (Job 27:13-23). This section highlights the ultimate futility of wickedness, reminding us that earthly success is fleeting and that true reward lies in aligning oneself with God's will.
Job's words serve as a warning against prioritizing earthly gain over eternal values. He paints a vivid picture of the ultimate fate of those who disregard God's law, emphasizing the temporary nature of worldly prosperity and the certainty of divine judgment. This contrast between Job's integrity and the fate of the wicked provides a framework for understanding the importance of moral choices and their eternal consequences.
This chapter in Job serves as a powerful reminder that integrity matters, even when it seems that wickedness prospers. Job's unwavering commitment to truth, coupled with his insight into the destiny of the ungodly, provides both a challenge and an encouragement to those seeking to live a life of faith. Job 27 urges us to examine our own hearts, ensuring that our actions are aligned with God's will and that our hope is firmly rooted in Him.