Job 34:2-22

2‘You men who are so wise and who know so much, listen to me. Hear what I have to say.

3You recognize nice food when you eat it. So you should recognize the value of my words.

4We should decide among ourselves what is right. We should agree together what is good.

5Job has said, “I am not guilty. But God refuses to judge me in a fair way.

6I am right, but nobody believes me. I have not done anything wrong, but I am suffering and I am near to death.”

7There has never been a man like Job! He laughs at God as easily as he drinks water.

8He is a friend of wicked people, and people who do evil things.

9Job says, “If anyone tries to please God, it does not help them at all.”

10So listen to me, you men who understand so much. Almighty God can never do anything that is wrong or wicked!

11He judges people fairly as he sees the things that they do. He gives people what they deserve.

12It is true! Almighty God does not do wicked things. He never refuses to judge people in a fair way.

13God's great power did not come from anyone else! He himself has authority over the whole world.

14God could decide to remove life from the world. He could take back his spirit and his breath.

15If he did that, everyone that is alive would die. As humans, we would become dirt again.

16If you really understand things, Job, listen to me. Hear what I have to say.

17If God refused to do what is right, he could not rule the world. He is the powerful Judge who knows what is right. But you say that he is guilty!

18It is God who may say to a king, “You are useless!” He may say to rulers, “You are wicked!”

19God created everyone. He is not more kind to important people than he is to other people. He does not help rich people more than he helps poor people.

20Anyone may die suddenly, in the middle of the night. God may shake them, so that they die. He easily removes even the most powerful people.

21He watches the way that each person lives. He sees what they do every day.

22People who do wicked things cannot hide themselves. There is no place dark enough for them to hide from God.