Job 34:2-22

2“Listen to me, you wise men. Pay attention, you who have knowledge.

3Job said, ‘The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.’

4So let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.

5For Job also said, ‘I am innocent, but God has taken away my rights.

6I am innocent, but they call me a liar. My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.’

7“Tell me, has there ever been a man like Job, with his thirst for irreverent talk?

8He chooses evil people as companions. He spends his time with wicked men.

9He has even said, ‘Why waste time trying to please God?’

10“Listen to me, you who have understanding. Everyone knows that God doesn’t sin! The Almighty can do no wrong.

11He repays people according to their deeds. He treats people as they deserve.

12Truly, God will not do wrong. The Almighty will not twist justice.

13Did someone else put the world in his care? Who set the whole world in place?

14If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath,

15all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust.

16“Now listen to me if you are wise. Pay attention to what I say.

17Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the almighty judge?

18For he says to kings, ‘You are wicked,’ and to nobles, ‘You are unjust.’

19He doesn’t care how great a person may be, and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all.

20In a moment they die. In the middle of the night they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.

21“For God watches how people live; he sees everything they do.

22No darkness is thick enough to hide the wicked from his eyes.