Old Testament · Wisdom

Job 27

I Will Not Deny My Integrity

Job takes an oath: till I die, I will not say my friends are right. My heart does not reproach me for any of my days.

King James Version BSB KJV

1Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,

2As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;

3All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;

4My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.

5God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.

6My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

7Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.

8For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?

9Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?

10Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?

11I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

12Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?

13This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.

14If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.

15Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.

16Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;

17He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.

18He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh.

19The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not.

20Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.

21The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.

22For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.

23Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.

Understand This

Job 27, explained

What Job 27 is saying

Job swears a solemn oath by God—the very God he accuses—maintaining his integrity: 'Till I die, I will not deny my integrity.' He then describes the ultimate fate of the wicked in language that echoes his friends' speeches, leading some scholars to attribute portions to Zophar's missing third speech. The wicked may accumulate wealth, but the righteous will wear their garments and the innocent will divide their silver.

The background behind it

The attribution of this chapter is debated, as Job appears to adopt his friends' retributive language. Some scholars see this as a literary disruption reflecting the dialogue's breakdown. Others argue Job is reclaiming retribution theology on his own terms—affirming eventual justice while rejecting its application to his specific case.

Themes running underneath

Job's oath of innocence sworn by the God he challenges represents the book's deepest paradox: he calls as witness the very deity he accuses of injustice. This is not contradiction but the ultimate expression of Job's faith—God remains his only reference point for truth, even when God appears to be his adversary.

Why it still matters

Integrity that persists under extreme duress—refusing to accept a false confession to gain relief—is among the highest moral achievements. Job's oath challenges believers to value truth about themselves even when lying would be easier.

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Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.