Job 27:4

4 my lips shall not speak evil words, neither shall my soul meditate unrighteous thoughts.

Job 27:4 Meaning and Commentary

Job 27:4

My lips shall not speak wickedness
This is the thing he swears to, this the matter of his oath, not only that he would not speak a wicked word not anything corrupt, unsavoury, unchaste, profane, and idle nor speak evil of his neighbours and friends or of any man; but that he would not speak wickedly of himself, as he must do, if he owned himself to be a wicked man and an hypocrite as his friends charged him, and they would have had him confessed; but he swears he would not utter such wickedness as long as he had any breath in him:

nor my tongue utter deceit;
which respects the same thing; not merely any fallacy or lie, or what might impose upon and deceive another, which yet he was careful of; but such deceit and falsehood as would be a belying himself, which would be the case should he say that he was devoid of integrity and sincerity.

Job 27:4 In-Context

2 God lives, who has thus judge me; and the Almighty, who has embittered my soul;
3 verily, while my breath is yet in , and the breath of God which remains to me is in my nostrils,
4 my lips shall not speak evil words, neither shall my soul meditate unrighteous thoughts.
5 Far be it from me that I should justify you till I die; for I will not let go my innocence,
6 but keeping fast to righteousness I will by no means let it go: for I am not conscious to myself of having done any thing amiss.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.