Job 27:16-23

16 Though he heap up silver like dust, and pile up clothing like clay;
17 he may pile it up, but the just will wear it, and the innocent will divide the silver.
18 The house which he builds is like a spider's web, like a booth which a watchman makes.
19 He goes to bed rich, but will do so no more; he opens his eyes, and his wealth is gone.
20 Terrors overtake him like a flood; in the night a whirlwind carries him off.
21 The east wind lifts him up and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place.
22 It hurls at him without pity; he flees from its power in headlong flight.
23 It claps its hands at him, and hisses at him from its place.

Job 27:16-23 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.

Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.