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21 “For God watches how people live;
    he sees everything they do.
22 No darkness is thick enough
    to hide the wicked from his eyes.
23 We don’t set the time
    when we will come before God in judgment.
24 He brings the mighty to ruin without asking anyone,
    and he sets up others in their place.
25 He knows what they do,
    and in the night he overturns and destroys them.
26 He strikes them down because they are wicked,
    doing it openly for all to see.
27 For they turned away from following him.
    They have no respect for any of his ways.
28 They cause the poor to cry out, catching God’s attention.
    He hears the cries of the needy.
29 But if he chooses to remain quiet,
    who can criticize him?
When he hides his face, no one can find him,
    whether an individual or a nation.
30 He prevents the godless from ruling
    so they cannot be a snare to the people.

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21 Yes, Job,[a] his eyes constantly watch the behavior of human beings;
    he carefully observes their every step.
22 There’s no such thing as darkness to him—
    not even deep darkness—
        that can conceal those who practice evil.
23 He won’t examine mankind further,
    that they would go before God to judgment.
24 He shatters valiant men without a need to investigate,
    and he raises others in their place.
25 Thus he acknowledges their behavior, and overcomes them;
    when night time comes, they are crushed.

26 “He strikes[b] the wicked among them
    in a place where they can be seen
27 because they’ve abandoned their pursuit of him
    and had no respect for any of his ways.
28 As a result, the cries of the poor have reached him
    and he has heard the cry of the afflicted.

29 “If he remains silent, who will condemn him?
    If he conceals his face, who can see him?
        He watches over both nation and individual alike,
30 to keep the godless man from reigning
    or laying a snare for the people.”

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Footnotes

  1. Job 34:21 The Heb. lacks Job
  2. Job 34:26 Or slaps