² “Hear my words, you wise men;
    listen to me,^(A) you men of learning.
³ For the ear tests words
    as the tongue tastes food.^(B)
4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right;^(C)
    let us learn together what is good.^(D)

⁵ “Job says, ‘I am innocent,^(E)
    but God denies me justice.^(F)
6 Although I am right,
    I am considered a liar;^(G)
although I am guiltless,^(H)
    his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’^(I)
7 Is there anyone like Job,
    who drinks scorn like water?^(J)
8 He keeps company with evildoers;
    he associates with the wicked.^(K)
9 For he says, ‘There is no profit
    in trying to please God.’^(L)

¹⁰ “So listen to me,^(M) you men of understanding.^(N)
    Far be it from God to do evil,^(O)
    from the Almighty to do wrong.^(P)
11 He repays everyone for what they have done;^(Q)
    he brings on them what their conduct deserves.^(R)
12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,^(S)
    that the Almighty would pervert justice.^(T)
13 Who appointed^(U) him over the earth?
    Who put him in charge of the whole world?^(V)
14 If it were his intention
    and he withdrew his spirit^[a](W) and breath,^(X)
15 all humanity would perish^(Y) together
    and mankind would return to the dust.^(Z)

¹⁶ “If you have understanding,^(AA) hear this;
    listen to what I say.^(AB)
17 Can someone who hates justice govern?^(AC)
    Will you condemn the just and mighty One?^(AD)
18 Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
    and to nobles,^(AE) ‘You are wicked,’^(AF)
19 who shows no partiality^(AG) to princes
    and does not favor the rich over the poor,^(AH)
    for they are all the work of his hands?^(AI)
20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;^(AJ)
    the people are shaken and they pass away;
    the mighty are removed without human hand.^(AK)

²¹ “His eyes are on the ways of mortals;^(AL)
    he sees their every step.^(AM)
22 There is no deep shadow,^(AN) no utter darkness,^(AO)
    where evildoers can hide.^(AP)
23 God has no need to examine people further,^(AQ)
    that they should come before him for judgment.^(AR)
24 Without inquiry he shatters^(AS) the mighty^(AT)
    and sets up others in their place.^(AU)
25 Because he takes note of their deeds,^(AV)
    he overthrows them in the night^(AW) and they are crushed.^(AX)
26 He punishes them for their wickedness^(AY)
    where everyone can see them,
²⁷ because they turned from following him^(AZ)
    and had no regard for any of his ways.^(BA)
28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
    so that he heard the cry of the needy.^(BB)
29 But if he remains silent,^(BC) who can condemn him?^(BD)
    If he hides his face,^(BE) who can see him?
Yet he is over individual and nation alike,^(BF)
30     to keep the godless^(BG) from ruling,^(BH)
    from laying snares for the people.^(BI)

³¹ “Suppose someone says to God,
    ‘I am guilty^(BJ) but will offend no more.
³² Teach me what I cannot see;^(BK)
    if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’^(BL)
33 Should God then reward you on your terms,
    when you refuse to repent?^(BM)
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;^(BN)
    his words lack insight.’^(BO)
36 Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
    for answering like a wicked man!^(BP)
37 To his sin he adds rebellion;
    scornfully he claps his hands^(BQ) among us
    and multiplies his words^(BR) against God.”^(BS)

² “Do you think this is just?
    You say, ‘I am in the right,^(A) not God.’^(B)
3 Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me,^[a]
    and what do I gain by not sinning?’^(C)

⁴ “I would like to reply to you
    and to your friends with you.
⁵ Look up at the heavens^(D) and see;
    gaze at the clouds so high above you.^(E)
6 If you sin, how does that affect him?
    If your sins are many, what does that do to him?^(F)
7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him,^(G)
    or what does he receive^(H) from your hand?^(I)
8 Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself,^(J)
    and your righteousness only other people.^(K)

⁹ “People cry out^(L) under a load of oppression;^(M)
    they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.^(N)
10 But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,^(O)
    who gives songs^(P) in the night,^(Q)
11 who teaches^(R) us^(S) more than he teaches^[b] the beasts of the earth
    and makes us wiser than^[c] the birds in the sky?’
¹² He does not answer^(T) when people cry out
    because of the arrogance^(U) of the wicked.^(V)
13 Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea;
    the Almighty pays no attention to it.^(W)
14 How much less, then, will he listen
    when you say that you do not see him,^(X)
that your case^(Y) is before him
    and you must wait for him,^(Z)
15 and further, that his anger never punishes^(AA)
    and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.^[d](AB)
16 So Job opens his mouth with empty talk;^(AC)
    without knowledge he multiplies words.”^(AD)

² “Bear with me a little longer and I will show you
    that there is more to be said in God’s behalf.
³ I get my knowledge from afar;^(A)
    I will ascribe justice to my Maker.^(B)
4 Be assured that my words are not false;^(C)
    one who has perfect knowledge^(D) is with you.^(E)

⁵ “God is mighty,^(F) but despises no one;^(G)
    he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.^(H)
6 He does not keep the wicked alive^(I)
    but gives the afflicted their rights.^(J)
7 He does not take his eyes off the righteous;^(K)
    he enthrones them with kings^(L)
    and exalts them forever.^(M)
8 But if people are bound in chains,^(N)
    held fast by cords of affliction,^(O)
9 he tells them what they have done—
    that they have sinned arrogantly.^(P)
10 He makes them listen^(Q) to correction^(R)
    and commands them to repent of their evil.^(S)
11 If they obey and serve him,^(T)
    they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity^(U)
    and their years in contentment.^(V)
12 But if they do not listen,
    they will perish by the sword^[a](W)
    and die without knowledge.^(X)

¹³ “The godless in heart^(Y) harbor resentment;^(Z)
    even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.^(AA)
14 They die in their youth,^(AB)
    among male prostitutes of the shrines.^(AC)
15 But those who suffer^(AD) he delivers in their suffering;^(AE)
    he speaks^(AF) to them in their affliction.^(AG)

¹⁶ “He is wooing^(AH) you from the jaws of distress
    to a spacious place^(AI) free from restriction,^(AJ)
    to the comfort of your table^(AK) laden with choice food.^(AL)
17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;^(AM)
    judgment and justice have taken hold of you.^(AN)
18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches;
    do not let a large bribe^(AO) turn you aside.^(AP)
19 Would your wealth^(AQ) or even all your mighty efforts
    sustain you so you would not be in distress?
²⁰ Do not long for the night,^(AR)
    to drag people away from their homes.^[b]
21 Beware of turning to evil,^(AS)
    which you seem to prefer to affliction.^(AT)

²² “God is exalted in his power.^(AU)
    Who is a teacher like him?^(AV)
23 Who has prescribed his ways^(AW) for him,^(AX)
    or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?^(AY)
24 Remember to extol his work,^(AZ)
    which people have praised in song.^(BA)
25 All humanity has seen it;^(BB)
    mortals gaze on it from afar.
²⁶ How great is God—beyond our understanding!^(BC)
    The number of his years is past finding out.^(BD)

²⁷ “He draws up the drops of water,^(BE)
    which distill as rain to the streams^[c];^(BF)
28 the clouds pour down their moisture
    and abundant showers^(BG) fall on mankind.^(BH)
29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,
    how he thunders^(BI) from his pavilion?^(BJ)
30 See how he scatters his lightning^(BK) about him,
    bathing the depths of the sea.^(BL)
31 This is the way he governs^[d] the nations^(BM)
    and provides food^(BN) in abundance.^(BO)
32 He fills his hands with lightning
    and commands it to strike its mark.^(BP)
33 His thunder announces the coming storm;^(BQ)
    even the cattle make known its approach.^[e](BR)