27:1   I swear by the living Almighty God, who refuses me justice and makes my life bitter---

27:2   (SEE 27:1)

27:3   as long as God gives me breath,

27:4   my lips will never say anything evil, my tongue will never tell a lie.

27:5   I will never say that you men are right; I will insist on my innocence to my dying day.

27:6   I will never give up my claim to be right; my conscience is clear.

27:7   May all who oppose me and fight against me be punished like the wicked and the unrighteous.

27:8   What hope is there for the godless in the hour when God demands their life?

27:9   When trouble comes, will God hear their cries?

27:10   They should have desired the joy he gives; they should have constantly prayed to him.

27:11   Let me teach you how great is God's power, and explain what Almighty God has planned.

27:12   But no, after all, you have seen for yourselves; so why do you talk such nonsense?

27:13   This is how Almighty God punishes wicked, violent people.

27:14   They may have many sons, but all will be killed in war; their children never have enough to eat.

27:15   Those who survive will die from disease, and even their widows will not mourn their death.

27:16   The wicked may have too much silver to count and more clothes than anyone needs;

27:17   but some good person will wear the clothes, and someone honest will get the silver.

27:18   The wicked build houses like a spider's web or like the hut of a slave guarding the fields.

27:19   One last time they will lie down rich, and when they wake up, they will find their wealth gone.

27:20   Terror will strike like a sudden flood; a wind in the night will blow them away;

27:21   the east wind will sweep them from their homes;

27:22   it will blow down on them without pity while they try their best to escape.

27:23   The wind howls at them as they run, frightening them with destructive power.