Job 27: Job holds to his righteousness and speaks of the wicked
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Job takes up his parable again and says, as God lives, that his lips will not speak unrighteousness, that he will not declare "you" right, and that he will hold to his righteousness until he dies. He asks what the hope of the godless is when God takes away his life, and says he will teach what is with the Almighty. He then speaks of the portion of the wicked: his children for the sword, his silver divided by the innocent, his house like a moth's, and a wind that carries him from his place.
Who is speaking?
God does not speak in this chapter, so nothing is in gold. The narrator gives one line in verse 1: Job again took up his parable, and said. Job speaks from verse 2 to the end of the chapter. No one else is quoted. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Job again took up his parable, and said,
In plain English: Job again took up his parable (or: his discourse), and said,
The Hebrew word: "Parable" is mashal, which the dictionary gives as "properly, a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical nature; hence, a simile (as an adage, poem, discourse)". It is in 3 verses of Job: , this verse and . The WEB says "parable" in this verse and in Job 29:1.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
2“As God lives, who has taken away my right, the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter
In plain English: As God lives, who has taken away my right (or: my justice), the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter,
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
3(for the length of my life is still in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils);
In plain English: for all my breath is still in me (the WEB says: the length of my life is still in me), and the spirit of God is in my nostrils,
The Hebrew words: "Breath" is neshamah, which the dictionary gives as "a puff, i.e. wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect. or (concretely) an animal". It is in 7 verses of Job. "Spirit" is ruach. Both words are in , where Elihu says "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life".
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
4surely my lips will not speak unrighteousness, neither will my tongue utter deceit.
In plain English: my lips will not speak unrighteousness, and my tongue will not utter deceit (see the note).
The Hebrew words: Word by word the Hebrew reads "if my lips speak injustice, and if my tongue utters deceit". The WEB reads it as a promise that they will not.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
5Far be it from me that I should justify you. Until I die I will not put away my integrity from me.
In plain English: Far be it from me to declare you right (the WEB says: justify you). Until I die I will not put away my integrity from me.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
6I hold fast to my righteousness, and will not let it go. My heart will not reproach me so long as I live.
In plain English: I hold fast to my righteousness, and will not let it go. My heart will not reproach me any of my days.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
7“Let my enemy be as the wicked. Let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous.
In plain English: Let my enemy be like the wicked, and let the one who rises up against me be like the unrighteous.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
8For what is the hope of the godless, when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?
In plain English: For what is the hope of the godless, when he is cut off, when God takes away (or: draws out) his life?
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
9Will God hear his cry when trouble comes on him?
In plain English: Will God hear his cry when trouble comes on him?
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
10Will he delight himself in the Almighty, and call on God at all times?
In plain English: Or will he take delight in the Almighty, and call on God at all times?
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
11I will teach you about the hand of God. I will not conceal that which is with the Almighty.
In plain English: I will teach you about the hand of God. What is with the Almighty I will not hide.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
12Behold, all of you have seen it yourselves; why then have you become altogether vain?
In plain English: Look, all of you have seen it yourselves. Why then have you become altogether vain (see the note)?
The Hebrew words: The Hebrew uses two words from one root: "this vanity you act in vain". "Vanity" is hebel, which the dictionary gives as "emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory". It is in 64 verses of the Bible, and the WEB says "vanity" in 36 and "vain" in 11. "Act in vain" is habal, which the dictionary gives as "to be vain in act, word, or expectation; specifically to lead astray". It is in 5 verses of the Bible, and the WEB says "vain" in 3.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
13“This is the portion of a wicked man with God, the heritage of oppressors, which they receive from the Almighty.
In plain English: This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the inheritance of ruthless people, which they receive from the Almighty.
Good to know: is close to this verse. There the WEB reads "This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the heritage appointed to him by God", and the Hebrew has "from God" (Elohim) and "from El". This verse has "with God" (El), "ruthless people" and "from the Almighty" (Shaddai). The wording differs. Job 20 is the speech of Zophar the Naamathite, and this chapter is Job's.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
14If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword. His offspring will not be satisfied with bread.
In plain English: If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword. His descendants will not be satisfied with bread.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
15Those who remain of him will be buried in death. His widows will make no lamentation.
In plain English: Those who remain of him will be buried by death (the WEB says: in death), and his widows will not weep (the WEB says: make no lamentation).
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
16Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare clothing as the clay;
In plain English: Though he heap up silver like dust, and prepare clothing like clay,
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
17he may prepare it, but the just will put it on, and the innocent will divide the silver.
In plain English: he may prepare it, but a righteous person will put it on, and the innocent will divide the silver.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
18He builds his house as the moth, as a booth which the watchman makes.
In plain English: He builds his house like the moth, like a shelter that a watchman makes.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
19He lies down rich, but he will not do so again. He opens his eyes, and he is not.
In plain English: He lies down rich, but he will not do so again (or: he will not be gathered). He opens his eyes, and he is not.
The Hebrew word: "Do so again" is the WEB's reading of asaph, which the dictionary gives as "to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. remove". It is in 3 verses of Job: this one, and , where the WEB says "gathered" and "gather". Word by word this half of the verse reads "rich he lies down and he is not gathered".
What changes: With "gathered" the verse says the rich man is not gathered, and the text does not say gathered to whom or where. With the WEB he does not lie down rich again.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
20Terrors overtake him like waters. A storm steals him away in the night.
In plain English: Terrors overtake him like waters. A storm steals him away in the night.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
21The east wind carries him away, and he departs. It sweeps him out of his place.
In plain English: The east wind carries him away, and he departs. It sweeps him out of his place.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
22For it hurls at him, and does not spare, as he flees away from his hand.
In plain English: For it hurls at him, and does not spare, as he flees away from his hand (the Hebrew has no name for who hurls: see the note).
The Hebrew words: The Hebrew has no name for who hurls: "and he throws on him and does not spare, from his hand he surely flees". The WEB writes "it" for the first half and "his hand" for the second.
What changes: The text does not say whose hand it is, or who hurls.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
23Men will clap their hands at him, and will hiss him out of his place.
In plain English: Men will clap their hands at him, and will hiss him out of his place.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.