Job Holds Fast His Integrity

Job 27

Job swears by the life of God that he will not abandon his innocence or speak falsely while he lives. He then describes the sudden ruin awaiting the ungodly, whose wealth, children, and houses come to nothing despite present abundance.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonFURTHERMORE Job proceeded and by way of preface said:

BrentonAnd Job further continued and said in his parable,

GreekἜτι δὲ προσθεὶς Ἰὼβ εἶπεν τῷ προοιμίῳ,

KJVMoreover Job continued his parable, and said,

JPSAnd Job again took up his parable, and said:

ThomsonAs God liveth, Who hath thus condemned me,—even the Almighty Who hath made my life bitter:

BrentonAs God lives, who has thus judged me; and the Almighty, who has embittered my soul;

GreekΖῇ ὁ Θεὸς, ὃς οὕτω με κέκρικε, καὶ ὁ παντοκράτωρ ὁ πικράνας μου τὴν ψυχὴν,

KJVAs God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;

JPSAs God liveth, who hath taken away my right; And the Almighty, who hath dealt bitterly with me;

Thomsonwhile I have the power of breathing and the breath of God is in my nostrils,

Brentonverily, while my breath is yet in me, and the breath of God which remains to me is in my nostrils,

Greekεἰ μὴν ἔτι τῆς πνοῆς μου ἐνούσης, πνεῦμα δὲ θεῖον τὸ περιόν μοι ἐν ῥινὶ,

KJVAll the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;

JPSAll the while my breath is in me And the spirit of God is in my nostrils,

Thomsonmy lips shall not speak wickedness, nor shall my soul contrive mischief.

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

Greekμὴ λαλήσειν τὰ χείλη μου ὄνομα, οὐδὲ ἡ ψυχή μου μελετήσει ἄδικα.

KJV—

JPSSurely my lips shall not speak unrighteousness, Neither shall my tongue utter deceit;

ThomsonFar be it from me to acknowledge you to be right; for till I die, I will not give up mine innocence.

BrentonFar be it from me that I should justify you till I die; for I will not let go my innocence,

GreekΜή μοι εἴη δικαίους ὑμᾶς ἀποφῆναι ἕως ἂν ἀποθάνω, οὐ γὰρ ἀπαλλάξω μου τὴν ἀκακίαν μου.

KJVGod forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.

JPSFar be it from me that I should justify you; Till I die I will not put away mine integrity from me.

ThomsonAnd for asserting my righteousness I make no apology; for I am not conscious to myself of having done amiss.

Brentonbut keeping fast to my righteousness I will by no means let it go: for I am not conscious to myself of having done any thing amiss.

GreekΔικαιοσύνῃ δὲ προσέχων οὐ μὴν προῶμαι, οὐ γὰρ σύνοιδα ἐμαυτῷ ἄτοπα πράξας.

KJVMy righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

JPSMy righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

ThomsonShould not mine enemies then be as the overthrow of the wicked? And they who rise up against me as the destruction of transgressors?

BrentonNay rather, but let mine enemies be as the overthrow of the ungodly, and they that rise up against me, as the destruction of transgressors.

GreekΟὐ μὴν δὲ ἀλλὰ εἴησαν οἱ ἐχθροί μου ὥσπερ ἡ καταστροφὴ τῶν ἀσεβῶν, καὶ οἱ ἐπʼ ἐμὲ ἐπανιστάμενοι, ὥσπερ ἡ ἀπώλεια τῶν παρανόμων.

KJVLet mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.

JPSLet mine enemy be as the wicked, And let him that riseth up against me be as the unrighteous.

ThomsonNow whatever hope a wicked man hath, that he persisteth; shall he who hath trusted in the Lord be indeed safe?

BrentonFor what is the hope of the ungodly, that he holds to it? will he indeed trust in the Lord and be saved?

GreekΚαὶ τίς γάρ ἐστιν ἐλπὶς ἀσεβεῖ, ὅτι ἐπέχει; πεποιθὼς ἐπὶ κύριον ἄρα σωθήσεται;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonOr will God hear his prayer? Or when trouble cometh upon him,

BrentonWill God hear his prayer? or, when distress has come upon him,

GreekἪ τὴν δέησιν αὐτοῦ εἰσακούσεται ὁ Θεός; ἢ ἐπελθούσης αὐτῷ ἀνάγκης

KJVWill God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?

JPSWill God hear his cry, When trouble cometh upon him?

Thomsonhath he any assurance before Him? Or upon his calling, will He hearken to him?

Brentonhas he any confidence before him? or will God hear him as he calls upon him?

Greekμὴ ἔχει τινὰ παῤῥησίαν ἔναντι αὐτοῦ; ἢ ὡς ἐπικαλεσαμένου αὐτοῦ εἰσακούσεται αὐτοῦ;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonBut now let me tell you what is by the hand of the Lord. What are from the Almighty I will not falsify.

BrentonYet now I will tell you what is in the hand of the Lord: I will not lie concerning the things which are with the Almighty.

GreekἈλλὰ δὴ ἀναγγελῶ ὑμῖν τί ἐστιν ἐν χειρὶ Κυρίου, ἅ ἐστι παρὰ παντοκράτορι, οὐ ψεύσομαι.

KJVI will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

JPSI will teach you concerning the hand of God; That which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

ThomsonBehold you all know that you heap vanity on vanities, saying:

BrentonBehold, ye all know that ye are adding vanity to vanity.

GreekἸδοὺ πάντες οἴδατε, ὅτι κενὰ κενοῖς ἐπιβάλλετε.

KJVBehold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?

JPSBehold, all ye yourselves have seen it; Why then are ye become altogether vain?

Thomson“This is the portion of a wicked man from the Lord: and the possession of oppressors, which shall come to them from the Almighty.

BrentonThis is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of oppressors shall come upon them from the Almighty.

GreekΑὕτη ἡ μερὶς ἀνθρώπου ἀσεβοῦς παρὰ Κυρίου, κτῆμα δὲ δυναστῶν ἐλεύσεται παρὰ παντοκράτορος ἐπʼ αὐτούς.

KJVThis is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.

JPSThis is the portion of a wicked man with God, And the heritage of oppressors, which they receive from the Almighty.

ThomsonIf their children be many they shall be for slaughter; and if they grow up to men, they shall be beggars.

BrentonAnd if their children be many, they shall be for slaughter: and if they grow up, they shall beg.

GreekἘὰν δἐ πολλοὶ γένωνται οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτῶν, εἰς σφαγὴν ἔσονται· ἐὰν δὲ καὶ ἀνδρωθῶσι, προσαιτήσουσιν.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonAnd they that survive of him shall utterly perish, and no one shall pity their widows.

GreekΟἱ δὲ περιόντες αὐτοῦ ἐν θανάτῳ τελευτήσουσι, χήρας δὲ αὐτῶν οὐδεὶς ἐλεήσει.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonThough he heap up silver as dust; and store up gold as clay:

BrentonEven if he should gather silver as earth, and prepare gold as clay;

GreekἘὰν συναγάγῃ ὥσπερ γῆν ἀργύριον, ἶσα δὲ πηλῷ ἑτοιμάσῃ χρυσίον,

KJVThough he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;

JPSThough he heap up silver as the dust, And prepare raiment as the clay;

Thomsonthe righteous shall take charge of all these; and men of truth shall enjoy his wealth.

Brentonall these things shall the righteous gain, and the truehearted shall possess his wealth.

Greekταῦτα πάντα δίκαιοι περιποιήσονται, τὰ δὲ χρήματα αὐτοῦ ἀληθινοὶ καθέξουσιν.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonHis house is gone like moths or like a cobweb.

BrentonAnd his house is gone like moths, and like a spider's web.

GreekἈπέβη δὲ ὁ οἶκος αὐτοῦ ὥσπερ σῆτες, καὶ ὥσπερ ἀράχνη.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonHe shall lie down rich but shall not continue so. He hath opened his eyes, and all is gone.

BrentonThe rich man shall lie down, and shall not continue: he has opened his eyes, and he is not.

GreekΠλούσιος κοιμηθήσεται καὶ οὐ προσθήσει, ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ διήνοιξε καὶ οὐκ ἔστι.

KJVThe rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not.

JPSHe lieth down rich, but there shall be nought to gather; He openeth his eyes, and his wealth is not.

ThomsonSorrows flowed in upon him like water: In a night a tempest swept him away.

BrentonPains have come upon him as water, and darkness has carried him away by night.

GreekΣυνήντησαν αὐτῷ ὥσπερ ὕδωρ αἱ ὀδύναι, νυκτὶ δὲ ὑφείλατο αὐτὸν γνόφος.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonA burning wind shall take him up and go he must. It shall blow him away out of his place.

BrentonAnd a burning wind shall catch him, and he shall depart, and it shall utterly drive him out of his place.

GreekἈναλήψεται δὲ αὐτὸν καύσων καὶ ἀπελεύσεται, καὶ λικμήσει αὐτὸν ἐκ τοῦ τόπου αὐτοῦ.

KJVThe east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.

JPSThe east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth; And it sweepeth him out of his place.

ThomsonHe will dash upon him and will not spare. Should he by flight flee from His hand,

BrentonAnd God shall cast trouble upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπιῤῥίψει ἐπʼ αὐτὸν καὶ οὐ φείσεται, ἐκ χειρὸς αὐτοῦ φυγῇ φεύξεται.

KJVFor God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.

JPSYea, it hurleth at him, and spareth not; He would fain flee from its power.

ThomsonHe will cause them to clap their hands at him and will hiss him out of his place.”

BrentonHe shall cause men to clap their hands against them, and shall hiss him out of his place.

GreekΚροτήσει ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς χεῖρας αὐτῶν, καὶ συριεῖ αὐτὸν ἐκ τοῦ τόπου αὐτοῦ.

KJVMen shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.

JPSMen shall clap their hands at him, And shall hiss him out of his place.