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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 Therefore, intelligent ones, hear me;
    far be it from God to do evil
    and the Almighty to sin,
11     for he repays people based on what they do,
        paying back everyone according to their ways.
12 Surely God doesn’t act wickedly;
    the Almighty doesn’t distort justice.
13 Who placed earth in his care,
    and who gave him dominion over the entire world?
14 If he were to decide to do it—
    to gather his spirit and breath back to himself—
15         all flesh would die together,
        and humans would return to dust.

16 But if you have understanding, hear this;
    pay attention to the sound of my words.
17 Will one who hates justice rule;
    will you condemn the most righteous one?
18 Will you say to a king, “Worthless!”
    to royalty, “Evil!”
19 Who shows no favor to princes
        nor regards the rich over the poor,
    for they are all the work of God’s hands?
20     In the middle of the night they suddenly die;
        people are shaken and pass away.
    The mighty are removed, not by a human hand.

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