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10 “Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding:
    far be it from God, that he should do wickedness,
    from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
11 For the work of a man he will render to him,
    and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 Yes surely, God will not do wickedly,
    neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who put him in charge of the earth?
    Or who has appointed him over the whole world?
14 If he set his heart on himself,
    if he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,
15 all flesh would perish together,
    and man would turn again to dust.

16 “If now you have understanding, hear this.
    Listen to the voice of my words.
17 Should even one who hates justice govern?
    Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty?—
18 Who says to a king, ‘Vile!’
    or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?
19 He doesn’t respect the persons of princes,
    nor respect the rich more than the poor;
    for they all are the work of his hands.
20 In a moment they die, even at midnight.
    The people are shaken and pass away.
    The mighty are taken away without a hand.

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10 “Listen to me, you who have understanding.
    Everyone knows that God doesn’t sin!
    The Almighty can do no wrong.
11 He repays people according to their deeds.
    He treats people as they deserve.
12 Truly, God will not do wrong.
    The Almighty will not twist justice.
13 Did someone else put the world in his care?
    Who set the whole world in place?
14 If God were to take back his spirit
    and withdraw his breath,
15 all life would cease,
    and humanity would turn again to dust.

16 “Now listen to me if you are wise.
    Pay attention to what I say.
17 Could God govern if he hated justice?
    Are you going to condemn the almighty judge?
18 For he says to kings, ‘You are wicked,’
    and to nobles, ‘You are unjust.’
19 He doesn’t care how great a person may be,
    and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor.
    He made them all.
20 In a moment they die.
    In the middle of the night they pass away;
    the mighty are removed without human hand.

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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