Job 34:14–21

14 If it were his intention

and he withdrew his spirit and breath,

15 all humanity would perish together

and mankind would return to the dust.

16 “If you have understanding, hear this;

listen to what I say.

17 Can someone who hates justice govern?

Will you condemn the just and mighty One?

18 Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’

and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’

19 who shows no partiality to princes

and does not favor the rich over the poor,

for they are all the work of his hands?

20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;

the people are shaken and they pass away;

the mighty are removed without human hand.

21 “His eyes are on the ways of mortals;

he sees their every step.

14 If he should set his heart to it

and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,

15 all flesh would perish together,

and man would return to dust.

16 “If you have understanding, hear this;

listen to what I say.

17 Shall one who hates justice govern?

Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,

18 who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’

and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,’

19 who shows no partiality to princes,

nor regards the rich more than the poor,

for they are all the work of his hands?

20 In a moment they die;

at midnight the people are shaken and pass away,

and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.

21 “For his eyes are on the ways of a man,

and he sees all his steps.

14 If he set his heart upon man,

If he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

15 All flesh shall perish together,

And man shall turn again unto dust.

16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this:

Hearken to the voice of my words.

17 Shall even he that hateth right govern?

And wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

18 Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked?

And to princes, Ye are ungodly?

19 How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes,

Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor?

For they all are the work of his hands.

20 In a moment shall they die,

And the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away:

And the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man,

And he seeth all his goings.

14 If God were to take back his spirit

and withdraw his breath,

15 all 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.

17 Could God govern if he hated justice?

Are you going to condemn the almighty judge?

18 For he says to kings, ‘You are wicked,’

and to nobles, ‘You are unjust.’

19 He 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.

20 In 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.

14 If He should set His heart on it,

If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,

15 All flesh would perish together,

And man would return to dust.

16 “If you have understanding, hear this;

Listen to the sound of my words:

17 Should one who hates justice govern?

Will you condemn Him who is most just?

18 Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’

And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?

19 Yet He is not partial to princes,

Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;

For they are all the work of His hands.

20 In a moment they die, in the middle of the night;

The people are shaken and pass away;

The mighty are taken away without a hand.

21 “For His eyes are on the ways of man,

And He sees all his steps.

14 If God should decide

to take away life and breath,

15 then everyone would die together

and turn back into dust.

16 “If you can understand, hear this;

listen to what I have to say.

17 Can anyone govern who hates what is right?

How can you blame God who is both fair and powerful?

18 God is the one who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’

or to important people, ‘You are evil.’

19 He is not nicer to princes than other people,

nor kinder to rich people than poor people,

because he made them all with his own hands.

20 They can die in a moment, in the middle of the night.

They are struck down, and then they pass away;

powerful people die without help.

21 “God watches where people go;

he sees every step they take.

14 If he set his heart upon himself,

If he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

15 All flesh shall perish together,

And man shall turn again unto dust.

16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this:

Hearken to the voice of my words.

17 Shall even one that hateth justice govern?

And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous and mighty?—

18 Him that saith to a king, Thou art vile,

Or to nobles, Ye are wicked;

19 That respecteth not the persons of princes,

Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor;

For they all are the work of his hands.

20 In a moment they die, even at midnight;

The people are shaken and pass away,

And the mighty are taken away without hand.

21 For his eyes are upon the ways of a man,

And he seeth all his goings.

14 If he only thought of himself, and gathered unto him his spirit and his breath, 15 All flesh would expire together, and man would return to the dust.

16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this: give ear to the voice of my words! 17 Should he that hateth right indeed govern? and wilt thou condemn the All-just? 18 Shall one say to a king, Belial? to nobles, Wicked? 19 How then to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich man more than the poor? for they are all the work of his hands. 20 In a moment they die, even at midnight the people are convulsed and pass away; and the strong are taken away without hand. 21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his steps.

14 If he thought only of himself 

and withdrew his Spirit and his breath, 

15 all living beings would die together, 

and humanity would return to dust. 

16 “If you understand, listen to this. 

Open your ears to my words! 

17 Should anyone who hates justice be allowed to govern? 

Will you condemn the one who is righteous and mighty? 

18 Should anyone ⸤even⸥ say to a king, 

‘You good-for-nothing scoundrel!’ 

or to nobles, ‘You wicked people!’ 

19 The 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. 

20 They die suddenly in the middle of the night. 

People have seizures and pass away. 

Mighty people are taken away but not by human hands. 

21 God’s eyes are on a person’s ways. 

He sees all his steps. 

14 If He put His mind to it

and withdrew the spirit and breath He gave,

15 every living thing would perish together

and mankind would return to the dust.

16 If you have understanding, hear this;

listen to what I have to say.

17 Could one who hates justice govern the world?

Will you condemn the mighty Righteous One,

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

and to nobles, “Wicked men!”?

19 God is not partial to princes

and does not favor the rich over the poor,

for they are all the work of His hands.

20 They die suddenly in the middle of the night;

people shudder, then pass away.

Even the mighty are removed without effort.

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

and He observes all his steps.

14 If he should take back his spirit to himself

and gather to himself his breath,

15 all flesh would perish together,

and all mortals return to dust.

16 “If you have understanding, hear this;

listen to what I say.

17 Shall one who hates justice govern?

Will you condemn one who is righteous and mighty,

18 who says to a king, ‘You scoundrel!’

and to princes, ‘You wicked men!’;

19 who shows no partiality to nobles,

nor regards the rich more than the poor,

for they are all the work of his hands?

20 In a moment they die;

at midnight the people are shaken and pass away,

and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.

21 “For his eyes are upon the ways of mortals,

and he sees all their steps.

14 If he really wanted to,

he could hold back his spirit and breath.

15 Then everyone would die together.

They would return to the dust.

16 “Job, if you have understanding, listen to me.

Pay attention to what I’m saying.

17 Can someone who hates to be fair govern?

Will you bring charges against the holy and mighty One?

18 He says to kings, ‘You are worthless.’

He says to nobles, ‘You are evil.’

19 He doesn’t favor princes.

He treats rich people and poor people the same.

His hands created all of them.

20 They die suddenly in the middle of the night.

God strikes them down, and they pass away.

Those who are mighty are removed, but not by human hands.

21 “His eyes see how people live.

He watches every step they take.

14 “If He should determine to do so,

If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath,

15 All flesh would perish together,

And man would return to dust.

16 “But if you have understanding, hear this;

Listen to the sound of my words.

17 “Shall one who hates justice rule?

And will you condemn the righteous mighty One,

18 Who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’

To nobles, ‘Wicked ones’;

19 Who shows no partiality to princes

Nor regards the rich above the poor,

For they all are the work of His hands?

20 “In a moment they die, and at midnight

People are shaken and pass away,

And the mighty are taken away without a hand.

21 “For His eyes are upon the ways of a man,

And He sees all his steps.