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10 “So listen to me, you who ·can understand [or are sensible].
    God can never do wrong!
    It is impossible for the Almighty to do evil.
11 God pays people back for what they have done
    and ·gives them what their actions deserve [L finds them out according to their ways].
12 Truly God will never do wrong;
    the Almighty will never ·twist [pervert] ·what is right [justice].
13 ·No one [L Who…?] chose God to rule over the earth
    or put him in charge of the whole world.
14 If God should ·decide [L set his mind/heart to himself]
    to take away ·life [L spirit] and breath,
15 then ·everyone [L all flesh] would ·die [expire] together
    and turn back into dust.

16 “If you can understand, hear this;
    ·listen to what I have to say [L give ear to my words].
17 Can anyone govern who hates what is right?
    How can you ·blame God [L condemn one] who is both ·fair [righteous] and powerful?
18 ·God [L Who…?] is the one who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
    or to important people, ‘You are evil.’
19 He ·is not nicer to princes than other people [L shows no favoritism to princes],
    nor ·kinder [L gives more recognition] to ·rich people [nobles] than poor people,
    because he made them all with his own hands [Prov. 14:31; 17:5; 22:2].
20 They can die in a moment, in the middle of the night.
    ·They are struck down [L The people are shaken], and then they pass away;
    powerful people ·die [are taken away] ·without help [or not by human hand].

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10 
“Therefore hear me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God that He would do wickedness,
And from the Almighty to do wrong.
11 
“For God pays a man according to his work,
And He will make every man find [appropriate] compensation according to his way.
12 
“Surely God will not act wickedly,
Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 
“Who put God in charge over the earth?
And who has laid on Him the whole world?
14 
“If God should determine to do so,
If He should gather to Himself [that is, withdraw from man] His [life-giving] spirit and His breath,
15 
All flesh would perish together,
And man would return to dust.(A)

16 
“If you now have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words.
17 
“Shall one who hates justice [and is an enemy of right] govern?
And will you condemn Him who is just and mighty?
18 
“God who says to a king, ‘You are worthless and vile,’
Or to princes and nobles, ‘You are wicked and evil’?
19 
“Who is not partial to princes,
Nor does He regard the rich above 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,
And the powerful are taken away without a [human] hand.

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