21 “Although I am blameless,

I have no concern for myself;

I despise my own life.

22 It is all the same; that is why I say,

‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’

23 When a scourge brings sudden death,

he mocks the despair of the innocent.

24 When a land falls into the hands of the wicked,

he blindfolds its judges.

If it is not he, then who is it?

21 I am blameless; I regard not myself;

I loathe my life.

22 It is all one; therefore I say,

‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’

23 When disaster brings sudden death,

he mocks at the calamity of the innocent.

24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked;

he covers the faces of its judges—

if it is not he, who then is it?

21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life. 22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. 23 If the scourge slay suddenly, He will laugh at the trial of the innocent. 24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: He covereth the faces of the judges thereof; If not, where, and who is he?

21 “I am innocent,

but it makes no difference to me—

I despise my life.

22 Innocent or wicked, it is all the same to God.

That’s why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’

23 When a plague sweeps through,

he laughs at the death of the innocent.

24 The whole earth is in the hands of the wicked,

and God blinds the eyes of the judges.

If he’s not the one who does it, who is?

21 “I am blameless, yet I do not know myself;

I despise my life.

22 It is all one thing;

Therefore I say, ‘He destroys the blameless and the wicked.’

23 If the scourge slays suddenly,

He laughs at the plight of the innocent.

24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked.

He covers the faces of its judges.

If it is not He, who else could it be?

21 “I am innocent,

but I don’t care about myself.

I hate my own life.

22 It is all the same. That is why I say,

‘God destroys both the innocent and the guilty.’

23 If the whip brings sudden death,

God will laugh at the suffering of the innocent.

24 When the land falls into the hands of evil people,

he covers the judges’ faces so they can’t see it.

If it is not God who does this, then who is it?

21 I am perfect; I regard not myself;

I despise my life.

22 It is all one; therefore I say,

He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

23 If the scourge slay suddenly,

He will mock at the trial of the innocent.

24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked;

He covereth the faces of the judges thereof:

If it be not he, who then is it?

21 Were I perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

22 It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. 23 If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent. 24 The earth is given over into the hand of the wicked man; he covereth the faces of its judges. If not, who then is it?

21 If I am a man of integrity, I have no way of knowing it. 

I hate my life! 

22 It is all the same. 

That is why I say, 

‘He destroys ⸤both⸥ the man of integrity and the wicked.’ 

23 When a sudden disaster brings death, 

he makes fun of the despair of innocent people. 

24 The earth is handed over to the wicked. 

He covers the faces of its judges. 

If he isn’t the one ⸤doing this⸥, who is? 

21 Though I am blameless,

I no longer care about myself;

I renounce my life.

22 It is all the same. Therefore I say,

“He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.”

23 When disaster brings sudden death,

He mocks the despair of the innocent.

24 The earth is handed over to the wicked;

He blindfolds its judges.

If it isn’t He, then who is it?

21 I am blameless; I do not know myself;

I loathe my life.

22 It is all one; therefore I say,

he destroys both the blameless and the wicked.

23 When disaster brings sudden death,

he mocks at the calamity of the innocent.

24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked;

he covers the eyes of its judges—

if it is not he, who then is it?

21 “I am blameless; I do not care about myself;

I loathe my life.

22 It is all one; therefore I say,

‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’

23 When the whip kills suddenly,

he mocks at the despair of the innocent.

24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked;

he covers the face of its judge—

if it is not he, then who is it?

21 “Even though I’m honest,

I’m not concerned about myself.

I hate my own life.

22 It all amounts to the same thing. That’s why I say,

‘God destroys honest people and sinful people alike.’

23 Suppose a plague brings sudden death.

Then he laughs when those who haven’t sinned lose hope.

24 Suppose a nation falls into the power of sinful people.

Then God makes its judges blind to the truth.

If he isn’t the one doing it, who is?