Job 27:1-9

1 Job continued his discourse, saying:
2 As God lives, who has deprived me of justice, and the Almighty who has made me bitter,[a]
3 as long as my breath is still in me and the breath from God remains in my nostrils,[b]
4 my lips will not speak unjustly, and my tongue will not utter deceit.
5 I will never affirm that you are right. I will maintain my integrity[c] until I die.[d]
6 I will cling to my righteousness and never let it go. My conscience will not accuse [me] as long as I live![e]
7 May my enemy be like the wicked and my opponent like the unjust.
8 For what hope does the godless man have when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?[f]
9 Will God hear his cry when distress comes on him?

Job 27:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 27

Though Job's friends were become silent, and dropped the controversy with him, he still continued his discourse in this and the four following chapters; in which he asserts his integrity; illustrates and confirms his former sentiments; gives further proof of his knowledge of things, natural and divine; takes notice of his former state of prosperity, and of his present distresses and afflictions, which came upon him, notwithstanding his piety, humanity, and beneficence, and his freedom from the grosser acts of sin, both with respect to God and men, all which he enlarges upon. In this chapter he gives his word and oath for it, that he would never belie himself, and own that he was an hypocrite, when he was not, but would continue to assert his integrity, and the righteousness of his cause, as long as he lived, Job 27:1-6; for to be an hypocrite, and to attempt to conceal his hypocrisy, would be of no advantage to him, either in life, or in death, Job 27:7-10; and was this his character and case, upon their principles, he could expect no other than to be a miserable man, as wicked men are, who have their blessings turned into curses, or taken away from them, and they removed out of the world in the most awful and terrible manner, and under manifest tokens of the wrath and displeasure of God, Job 27:11-23.

Footnotes 6

  • [a]. Ex 1:14; Ru 1:20
  • [b]. Gn 2:7; Isa 2:22
  • [c]. Lit will not remove my integrity from me
  • [d]. Jb 2:3,9; 31:6; Pr 11:3
  • [e]. Jb 2:9; Ac 23:1; 1 Co 4:4
  • [f]. Jb 8:13; Pr 1:19; Lk 12:20-21
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