Easy Bible Crafts

Read & explore together

The Wicked Man’s Portion

In this part of Job’s speech, he describes what he calls the portion of the wicked. He asks searching questions about the godless person’s hope and prayer, then uses sharp images of loss, weakness and removal.

Job 27:7–23Older readers with an adultWisdom and dialogue
A lamp and scroll beside a path, companion artwork for wisdom and teaching

Understanding the passage

Listening in context

This passage is wisdom and dialogue within Job. The speaker says he will teach about the hand of God and not conceal what is with the Almighty. He also says his hearers have seen these things themselves before he describes the heritage of the wicked and oppressors.

Job 27:7–23

Main takeaway

In Job’s speech here, apparent success cannot give lasting safety to the wicked before God.

Look closely at the words

Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.

01Questions about the godlessThe speech opens with a wish that Job’s enemy be like the wicked and unrighteous. Then come searching questions: what hope does the godless have when cut off?

Explanation

The speech opens with a wish that Job’s enemy be like the wicked and unrighteous. Then come searching questions: what hope does the godless have when cut off? Will God hear his cry in trouble? Will he delight himself in the Almighty and call on God at all times?

Job 27:7Job 27:8Job 27:9Job 27:10
02A lesson his hearers should recogniseJob says he will teach about the hand of God and not conceal what is with the Almighty. He then says his hearers have seen it themselves.

Explanation

Job says he will teach about the hand of God and not conceal what is with the Almighty. He then says his hearers have seen it themselves. His complaint is that, despite this, they have become vain, showing emptiness rather than sound understanding.

Job 27:11Job 27:12
03The portion of the wickedJob names this the portion of a wicked man and the heritage of oppressors from the Almighty.

Explanation

Job names this the portion of a wicked man and the heritage of oppressors from the Almighty. He describes multiplied children facing the sword, offspring lacking bread, and those left ending in death, with widows making no lamentation. The pictures stress loss, not secure inheritance.

Job 27:13Job 27:14Job 27:15
04Riches that do not lastThe wicked may heap up silver and prepare clothing, yet the just and innocent receive them.

Explanation

The wicked may heap up silver and prepare clothing, yet the just and innocent receive them. His house is like a moth’s and a watchman’s booth, frail and temporary. Though he lies down rich, terrors, storm and wind sweep him away, ending in disgrace before others.

Job 27:16Job 27:17Job 27:18Job 27:19Job 27:20Job 27:21Job 27:22Job 27:23

Questions to explore

Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.

01What questions does Job ask to test the hope of the godless person?

List the questions in order, noting that Job asks about hope, God hearing, delighting in the Almighty, and calling on God at all times.

Job 27:8Job 27:9Job 27:10
02How does Job describe the ‘portion’ or heritage of the wicked?

Follow the images from children and bread to death, then to silver, clothing and a house that does not last.

Job 27:13Job 27:14Job 27:15Job 27:16Job 27:17Job 27:18
03Which pictures show that wealth cannot secure the wicked person?

Look for the contrast between lying down rich and then being overtaken, swept away and publicly driven out.

Job 27:19Job 27:20Job 27:21Job 27:23

Read the Bible passage

World English Bible Classic

Scripture quotation · Public domain

Job 27:7–23

7“Let my enemy be as the wicked. Let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous.

8For 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?

10Will he delight himself in the Almighty, and call on God at all times?

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

12Behold, all of you have seen it yourselves; why then have you become altogether vain?

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

14If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword. His offspring will not be satisfied with bread.

15Those who remain of him will be buried in death. His widows will make no lamentation.

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

17he may prepare it, but the just will put it on, and the innocent will divide the silver.

18He builds his house as the moth, as a booth which the watchman makes.

19He lies down rich, but he will not do so again. He opens his eyes, and he is not.

20Terrors overtake him like waters. A storm steals him away in the night.

21The east wind carries him away, and he departs. It sweeps him out of his place.

22For it hurls at him, and does not spare, as he flees away from his hand.

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

Source passages

Source: Job 27 ↗
← Explore more Bible passages