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continued his discourse, saying:
2 “As God lives, who has denied me justice,
the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter,
3 as long as my breath is in me,
and the breath of God is in my nostrils,
4 my lips will not speak wickedness,
nor will my tongue utter deceit.
5 Far be it from me that I should declare you in the right;
until I die, I will not put away my integrity from me.
6 I will hold fast my righteousness and never let go of it;
my conscience will not accuse me as long as I live.
7 “May my enemy be like the wicked,
and my opponent as the unrighteous.
8 But what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off,
when God takes away his life?
9Will God hear his cry when trouble comes on him?
10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty?
Will he always call upon God?
11 “I will teach you about the power of God;
I will not conceal that which is with the Almighty.
12 You have all seen it yourselves;
why then do you keep up this meaningless talk?
13 “This is the lot of a wicked man with God,
the inheritance ruthless men receive from the Almighty:
14 If his children increase in number, it is for the sword;
his offspring will never have enough food to eat.
15 Those who survive him will be buried because of the plague,
and their widows will not weep for them.
16 Though he heaps up silver like dust,
and piles up clothes like clay,
17 whatever he may heap up, the righteous will wear,
and the innocent will divide up the silver.
18 He builds his house like a moth,
like a booth set up by a watchman.
19 He lies down wealthy, but he will do so no more;
when he opens his eyes again, it is no longer.
20 Terrors overtake him like a flood;
a tempest steals him away in the night.
21 The east wind carries him away, and he is gone;
it sweeps him from his place.
22 It hurls itself at him without sparing,
while he desperately flees from its power.
23 It claps its hand at him,
and whistles at him from its place.”