Job 34:2-22

2“Listen to my words, you wise men. Open your ears to me, you intelligent men.

3The ear tests words like the tongue tastes food.

4Let’s decide for ourselves what is right and agree among ourselves as to what is good,

5because Job has said, ‘I’m righteous, but God has taken away my rights.

6I’m considered a liar in spite of my rights. I’ve been wounded by a deadly arrow, though I haven’t been disobedient.’

7What person is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,

8who travels with troublemakers and associates with evil people?

9He says, ‘It doesn’t do any good to try to please God.’

10“You people who have understanding, listen to me. It is unthinkable that God would ever do evil or that the Almighty would ever do wicked things.

11God will repay humanity for what it has done and will give each person what he deserves.

12Certainly, God will never do anything evil, and the Almighty will never pervert justice.

13Who put him in charge of the earth? Who appointed him to be over the whole world?

14If he thought only of himself and withdrew his Spirit and his breath,

15all living beings would die together, and humanity would return to dust.

16“If you understand, listen to this. Open your ears to my words!

17Should anyone who hates justice be allowed to govern? Will you condemn the one who is righteous and mighty?

18Should anyone ⌞even⌟ say to a king, ‘You good-for-nothing scoundrel!’ or to nobles, ‘You wicked people!’

19The one who is righteous and mighty does not grant special favors to princes or prefer important people over poor people because his hands made them all.

20They die suddenly in the middle of the night. People have seizures and pass away. Mighty people are taken away but not by human hands.

21God’s eyes are on a person’s ways. He sees all his steps.

22There’s no darkness or deep shadow where troublemakers can hide.