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, ^a

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

and to nobles, “Wicked men!”? ^b

¹⁹God is not partial ^cto 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. ^d

²²There is no darkness, no deep darkness,

where evildoers can hide themselves. ^e

²³God does not need to examine a person further,

that one should ^fapproach Him in court.

²⁴He shatters the mighty without an investigation

and sets others in their place. ^g

²⁵Therefore, He recognizes their deeds ^h

and overthrows them by night, and they are crushed.

²⁶In full view of the public, ⁱ

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 afflicted. ^j

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.