Job 27:5-6

Job was sure that he was innocent. He said that he would continue to argue this for the rest of his life.

Later, we see that Job’s attitude was wrong. Job should have insisted that God was right. But instead, Job argued that he himself was right (Job 32:2).

The fate of wicked men

v7 I wish that all my enemies suffered like wicked men. v8 When an evil man dies, he has no hope. v9 God does not listen to that man’s cry when such a man suffers. v10 That man does not receive any pleasure from God. That man does not pray constantly.

v11 I will teach you about God’s power. I will explain to you how God acts. v12 But you yourselves have seen these things. So, stop your foolish speeches!

v13 God has decided the fate of wicked men. He will give to an evil man the punishment that the man deserves. v14 The evil man may have many children. But they will die in a war. Or they will starve. v15 Or they will die because of illness. When they die, even their widows will not be sad.

v16 A wicked man may have piles of silver, like dust. And he may have piles of clothing too. v17 (But he will not enjoy his own possessions.) Good people will wear that man’s clothes. Innocent people will share his silver. v18 A wicked man’s life is like a house that he builds. But the building is weak. It is like an insect’s home, that the insect makes from silk. Or, the house is like a temporary shelter that a workman makes.

v19 That wicked man will lose everything in a single night. When he lies down, he is wealthy. When he wakes, he owns nothing. v20 His troubles are as sudden as a flood. During the night, there is a terrible storm. v21 A powerful east wind blows. The wind forces that man to leave his home. v22 But his troubles continue. The wind does not stop. The man runs to escape from the power of the wind. v23 The wind is like his enemy, who claps to frighten the man away. And his enemy calls so that the man must leave his home.