Job 34:2-22

2“Listen to my words, you wise men; hear me, you learned men.

3For the ear assesses words as the mouth tastes food.

4Let us evaluate for ourselves what is right; let us come to know among ourselves what is good.

5For Job says, ‘I am innocent, but God turns away my right.

6Concerning my right, should I lie? My wound is incurable, although I am without transgression.’

7What man is like Job, who drinks derision like water!

8He goes about in company with evildoers, he goes along with wicked men.

9For he says, ‘It does not profit a man when he makes his delight with God.’

10“Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, from the Almighty to do evil.

11For he repays a person for his work, and according to the conduct of a person, he causes the consequences to find him.

12Indeed, in truth, God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

13Who entrusted to him the earth? And who put him over the whole world?

14If God were to set his heart on it, and gather in his spirit and his breath,

15all flesh would perish together and human beings would return to dust.

16“If you have understanding, listen to this, hear what I have to say.

17Do you really think that one who hates justice can govern? And will you declare guilty the supremely righteous One,

18who says to a king, ‘Worthless man’ and to nobles, ‘Wicked men,’

19who shows no partiality to princes, and does not take note of the rich more than the poor, because all of them are the work of his hands?

20In a moment they die, in the middle of the night, people are shaken and they pass away. The mighty are removed effortlessly.

21For his eyes are on the ways of an individual, he observes all a person’s steps.

22There is no darkness, and no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves.