The Amalgamation

Job 27

Job again took up his discourse and said,

   By the living God (El) who has deprived me of justice,

      By the Almighty (Shaddai) who has embittered my soul,

As long as the breath of life in in me,

   And God’s Spirit is in my nostrils,

Never will my lips speak evil,

   Nor my tongue ever utter deceit,

Far be it from me to declare you right,

   Until I die, I will not let go of my integrity.

I cling to my righteousness, I will not yield,

   My heart has been free of blasphemy from the days of my birth,

May my enemy be deemed wicked,

   My adversary the evil doer,

For what hope has the evil doer,

   When he is cut off,

      When God calls for his soul?

Will God hear his scream,

   When disaster befalls him?

Will he find satisfaction from Shaddai?

   Can he call upon God at any time?

Let me teach you, as the hand of God,

   What the almighty has in mind, I shall not conceal,

Behold, all of you have seen this,

   Why then do you spew forth nonsense?

This is the sinner’s portion from God,

   The evil doer’s inheritance from Shaddai,

If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword,

   His offspring, will never be satisfied with bread.

Those of his who survive will be buried by plague,

   His widows will not mourn.

Should he heap silver like dust,

   Layup clothing as clay,

He may store it up, but the just will wear it,

   His silver, the innocent will divide.

The house he builds is as a frail nest,

   Like a lean to a watch man sets up,

He lies down wealthy, but no more,

   When he opens his eyes, it is gone.

Terror overwhelms him like a flood,

   In the night a tempest snatches him away,

The East wind lifts him up and he is gone,

   Sweeps him away from his place,

Hurls itself against him unsparingly,

   As he recklessly flees its power,

Claps hands at him in derision,

   Hisses at him in his position.

 

Job 269