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10 “Therefore, hear me, you who have sense;
    far be it from God that he should do wickedness
    and from the Almighty[a] that he should do wrong.(A)
11 For according to their deeds he will repay them,
    and according to their ways he will make it befall them.(B)
12 Of a truth, God will not do wickedly,
    and the Almighty[b] will not pervert justice.(C)
13 Who gave him charge over the earth,
    and who laid on him[c] the whole world?(D)
14 If he should take back his spirit[d] to himself
    and gather to himself his breath,(E)
15 all flesh would perish together,
    and all mortals return to dust.(F)

16 “If you have understanding, hear this;
    listen to what I say.
17 Shall one who hates justice govern?
    Will you condemn one who is righteous and mighty,(G)
18 who says to a king, ‘You scoundrel!’
    and to princes, ‘You wicked men!’;(H)
19 who shows no partiality to nobles,
    nor regards the rich more than the poor,
    for they are all the work of his hands?(I)
20 In a moment they die;
    at midnight the people are shaken and pass away,
    and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.(J)

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Footnotes

  1. 34.10 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai
  2. 34.12 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai
  3. 34.13 Heb lacks on him
  4. 34.14 Heb his heart his spirit

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