10 Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding.
It is impossible for God to do wrong,
and for the Almighty to act unjustly.(A)
11 For he repays(B) a person according to his deeds,
and he gives him what his conduct deserves.[a]
12 Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly
and the Almighty does not pervert justice.(C)
13 Who gave him authority over the earth?
Who put him in charge of the entire world?(D)
14 If he put his mind to it
and withdrew the spirit(E) and breath he gave,
15 every living thing would perish together
and mankind would return to the dust.(F)

16 If you have understanding, hear this;
listen to what I have to say.
17 Could one who hates justice govern the world?
Will you condemn the mighty Righteous One,(G)
18 who says to a king, “Worthless man!”
and to nobles, “Wicked men!”?(H)
19 God is not partial(I) to princes
and does not favor the rich over the poor,
for they are all the work of his hands.
20 They die suddenly in the middle of the night;
people shudder, then pass away.
Even the mighty are removed without effort.

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Footnotes

  1. 34:11 Lit and like a path of a man, he causes him to find

God is Just

10 “Therefore you men of understanding,[a] listen to me!
    Far be it for God to practice wickedness,
        or the Almighty to do what is wrong,
11 because he repays a person for his behavior;
    and according to a person’s[b] conduct,
        he lets it happen to[c] him.
12 Truly, God doesn’t practice wickedness,
    and the Almighty doesn’t pervert justice.
13 Who entrusted the earth to him?
    Who made him responsible for the entire inhabited world?
14 If he were to decide to do so,
    that is, to take back to himself[d] his spirit and breath of life,[e]
15 every living thing would die all at once,[f]
    and mankind would return to dust.”

God’s Rule is Just

16 If you have[g] understanding, listen to this!
    Pay attention to what I have to say:
17 Can one who hates justice really govern?
    And if God[h] is righteous and mighty, can you condemn him?[i]
18 Can one say to a king, ‘You’re vile!’
    or to nobles, ‘You’re wicked!’?
19 Who isn’t partial to[j] princes?
    Who doesn’t give preference to the nobles over the poor?
        Nevertheless, all of them are his handiwork.

20 “They die suddenly, in the middle of the night;
    people suffer seizures and pass away;
even valiant men can be taken away—
    and not by human hands.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 34:10 Lit. heart
  2. Job 34:11 Lit. man
  3. Job 34:11 Lit. it find
  4. Job 34:14 The Heb. lacks to himself
  5. Job 34:14 The Heb. lacks of life
  6. Job 34:15 Lit. die together
  7. Job 34:16 The Heb. lacks you have
  8. Job 34:17 Lit. he
  9. Job 34:17 The Heb. lacks him
  10. Job 34:19 Lit. Who doesn’t lift the faces of