21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23 For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.

24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.

25 Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:

28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

29 When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:

30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

32 That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

33 Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.

34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.

35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.

37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

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21 “His eyes are on the ways of mortals;(A)
    he sees their every step.(B)
22 There is no deep shadow,(C) no utter darkness,(D)
    where evildoers can hide.(E)
23 God has no need to examine people further,(F)
    that they should come before him for judgment.(G)
24 Without inquiry he shatters(H) the mighty(I)
    and sets up others in their place.(J)
25 Because he takes note of their deeds,(K)
    he overthrows them in the night(L) and they are crushed.(M)
26 He punishes them for their wickedness(N)
    where everyone can see them,
27 because they turned from following him(O)
    and had no regard for any of his ways.(P)
28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
    so that he heard the cry of the needy.(Q)
29 But if he remains silent,(R) who can condemn him?(S)
    If he hides his face,(T) who can see him?
Yet he is over individual and nation alike,(U)
30     to keep the godless(V) from ruling,(W)
    from laying snares for the people.(X)

31 “Suppose someone says to God,
    ‘I am guilty(Y) but will offend no more.
32 Teach me what I cannot see;(Z)
    if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’(AA)
33 Should God then reward you on your terms,
    when you refuse to repent?(AB)
You must decide, not I;
    so tell me what you know.

34 “Men of understanding declare,
    wise men who hear me say to me,
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge;(AC)
    his words lack insight.’(AD)
36 Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
    for answering like a wicked man!(AE)
37 To his sin he adds rebellion;
    scornfully he claps his hands(AF) among us
    and multiplies his words(AG) against God.”(AH)

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16 Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.

17 But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.

18 Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.

19 Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.

20 Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.

21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

22 Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?

23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?

24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.

25 Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.

26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:

28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.

29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?

30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.

31 For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.

32 With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.

33 The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

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16 “He is wooing(A) you from the jaws of distress
    to a spacious place(B) free from restriction,(C)
    to the comfort of your table(D) laden with choice food.(E)
17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;(F)
    judgment and justice have taken hold of you.(G)
18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches;
    do not let a large bribe(H) turn you aside.(I)
19 Would your wealth(J) or even all your mighty efforts
    sustain you so you would not be in distress?
20 Do not long for the night,(K)
    to drag people away from their homes.[a]
21 Beware of turning to evil,(L)
    which you seem to prefer to affliction.(M)

22 “God is exalted in his power.(N)
    Who is a teacher like him?(O)
23 Who has prescribed his ways(P) for him,(Q)
    or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?(R)
24 Remember to extol his work,(S)
    which people have praised in song.(T)
25 All humanity has seen it;(U)
    mortals gaze on it from afar.
26 How great is God—beyond our understanding!(V)
    The number of his years is past finding out.(W)

27 “He draws up the drops of water,(X)
    which distill as rain to the streams[b];(Y)
28 the clouds pour down their moisture
    and abundant showers(Z) fall on mankind.(AA)
29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,
    how he thunders(AB) from his pavilion?(AC)
30 See how he scatters his lightning(AD) about him,
    bathing the depths of the sea.(AE)
31 This is the way he governs[c] the nations(AF)
    and provides food(AG) in abundance.(AH)
32 He fills his hands with lightning
    and commands it to strike its mark.(AI)
33 His thunder announces the coming storm;(AJ)
    even the cattle make known its approach.[d](AK)

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Footnotes

  1. Job 36:20 The meaning of the Hebrew for verses 18-20 is uncertain.
  2. Job 36:27 Or distill from the mist as rain
  3. Job 36:31 Or nourishes
  4. Job 36:33 Or announces his coming— / the One zealous against evil

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

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Faith and Deeds

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?(A) Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.(B) 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?(C) 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.(D)

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds,(E) and I will show you my faith(F) by my deeds.(G) 19 You believe that there is one God.(H) Good! Even the demons believe that(I)—and shudder.

20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[a]?(J) 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?(K) 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together,(L) and his faith was made complete by what he did.(M) 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[b](N) and he was called God’s friend.(O) 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?(P) 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.(Q)

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Footnotes

  1. James 2:20 Some early manuscripts dead
  2. James 2:23 Gen. 15:6