Job 34:16–30

¹⁶If you have understanding, hear this;

listen to what I have to say.

¹⁷Could one who hates justice govern the world?

Will you condemn the mighty Righteous One,^s

¹⁸who says to a king, “Worthless man!”

and to nobles, “Wicked men!”?^t

¹⁹God is not partial^u to princes

and does not favor the rich over the poor,

for they are all the work of his hands.

²⁰They die suddenly in the middle of the night;

people shudder, then pass away.

Even the mighty are removed without effort.

²¹For his eyes watch over a man’s ways,

and he observes all his steps.^a

²²There is no darkness, no deep darkness,

where evildoers can hide.^b

²³God does not need to examine a person further,

that one should^A approach him in court.

²⁴He shatters the mighty without an investigation

and sets others in their place.^c

²⁵Therefore, he recognizes their deeds^d

and overthrows them by night, and they are crushed.

²⁶In full view of the public,^B

he strikes them for their wickedness,

²⁷because they turned aside from following him

and did not understand any of his ways

²⁸but caused the poor to cry out to him,

and he heard the outcry of the needy.^e

²⁹But when God is silent, who can declare him guilty?

When he hides his face, who can see him?

Yet he watches over both individuals and nations,

³⁰so that godless men should not rule

or ensnare the people.