10 “So listen to me,(A) you men of understanding.(B)
    Far be it from God to do evil,(C)
    from the Almighty to do wrong.(D)
11 He repays everyone for what they have done;(E)
    he brings on them what their conduct deserves.(F)
12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,(G)
    that the Almighty would pervert justice.(H)
13 Who appointed(I) him over the earth?
    Who put him in charge of the whole world?(J)
14 If it were his intention
    and he withdrew his spirit[a](K) and breath,(L)
15 all humanity would perish(M) together
    and mankind would return to the dust.(N)

16 “If you have understanding,(O) hear this;
    listen to what I say.(P)
17 Can someone who hates justice govern?(Q)
    Will you condemn the just and mighty One?(R)
18 Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
    and to nobles,(S) ‘You are wicked,’(T)
19 who shows no partiality(U) to princes
    and does not favor the rich over the poor,(V)
    for they are all the work of his hands?(W)
20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;(X)
    the people are shaken and they pass away;
    the mighty are removed without human hand.(Y)

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Footnotes

  1. Job 34:14 Or Spirit

10 “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to (A)do evil,
And from the Almighty to do wrong.
11 For He repays a person for (B)his work,
And lets things happen in correspondence to a man’s [a]behavior.
12 (C)God certainly will not act wickedly,
And the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13 Who (D)gave Him authority over the earth?
And who (E)has placed the whole world on Him?
14 If He were to [b]determine to do so,
If He were to (F)gather His [c]spirit and His breath to Himself,
15 [d](G)Humanity would perish together,
And mankind would (H)return to dust.

16 “But if you have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words.
17 Shall (I)one who hates justice rule?
And (J)will you condemn the righteous mighty One,
18 Who says to a king, ‘You worthless one,’
To nobles, ‘You wicked one’;
19 Who shows no (K)partiality to the prominent,
Nor regards the rich as above the poor,
Since they are all the (L)work of His hands?
20 In a moment they die, and (M)at midnight
People are shaken and pass away,
And (N)the powerful are taken away without a hand.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 34:11 Lit way
  2. Job 34:14 Lit set His mind on Himself
  3. Job 34:14 Or Spirit
  4. Job 34:15 Lit All flesh

10 Therefore hearken unto me ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

13 Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?

14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

17 Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

18 Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?

19 How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

20 In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

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