Job 27
Job 27 consists of Job’s firm insistence on his own innocence and his views on the fate of the wicked. This chapter is part of one of Job’s final statements during his debate; it reflects his determination to refute his friends’ logic and to maintain his honesty and innocence to the end.
- Verses 1-6: Job swears to his innocence before God and confesses his life principles (conscience and integrity).
- Verses 7-12: Job says that those who accuse him (his friends) should become like the wicked instead.
- Verses 13-23: Job mentions the final end and fate of the wicked, emphasizing that the prosperity of the wicked is ultimately of no avail and that it will be judged by God.
1verseJob again took up his parable, and said,
2verse“As God lives, who has taken away my right, the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter
3verse(for the length of my life is still in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils);
4versesurely my lips will not speak unrighteousness, neither will my tongue utter deceit.
5verseFar be it from me that I should justify you. Until I die I will not put away my integrity from me.
6verseI hold fast to my righteousness, and will not let it go. My heart will not reproach me so long as I live.
7verse“Let my enemy be as the wicked. Let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous.
8verseFor what is the hope of the godless, when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?
9verseWill God hear his cry when trouble comes on him?
10verseWill he delight himself in the Almighty, and call on God at all times?
11verseI will teach you about the hand of God. I will not conceal that which is with the Almighty.
12verseBehold, all of you have seen it yourselves; why then have you become altogether vain?
13verse“This is the portion of a wicked man with God, the heritage of oppressors, which they receive from the Almighty.
14verseIf his children are multiplied, it is for the sword. His offspring will not be satisfied with bread.
15verseThose who remain of him will be buried in death. His widows will make no lamentation.
16verseThough he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare clothing as the clay;
17versehe may prepare it, but the just will put it on, and the innocent will divide the silver.
18verseHe builds his house as the moth, as a booth which the watchman makes.
19verseHe lies down rich, but he will not do so again. He opens his eyes, and he is not.
20verseTerrors overtake him like waters. A storm steals him away in the night.
21verseThe east wind carries him away, and he departs. It sweeps him out of his place.
22verseFor it hurls at him, and does not spare, as he flees away from his hand.
23verseMen will clap their hands at him, and will hiss him out of his place.
The Flow of the Text and Its Message
Even amid the judgment and misunderstandings of his friends, Job swears to his own innocence (verses 1-6). Because he lived by his conscience, he declares his resolve not to abandon himself, and he points out that, relatively speaking, his friends’ arguments are not right. Then Job explains that the wicked in the world cannot ultimately escape the consequences that match their actions—namely, destruction and God’s judgment (verses 13-23). This highlights that the suffering Job is experiencing is not because he is “wicked.”
Points to Reflect On
- Confession of sincerity: Even amid suffering and misunderstanding, you can consider Job’s attitude of trying to keep his inner self truthful and complete.
- Prosperity and the end of the wicked: The wicked may prosper for a time, but you can reflect on the fact that, in the end, their life is settled before God.
Applying It to Myself
- When you face a difficult situation or are met with misunderstanding, look back on how you are protecting your inner self and conscience.
- Rather than external success or prosperity, check again how important honesty and being right before God are.
