Job 34:16–30

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

Pay attention to what I’m saying.

¹⁷Can someone who hates to be fair govern?

Will you bring charges against the holy and mighty One?

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

He says to nobles, ‘You are evil.’

¹⁹He doesn’t favor princes.

He treats rich people and poor people the same.

His hands created all of them.

²⁰They 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.

²²There isn’t a dark place or deep shadow

where those who do what is evil can hide.

²³God doesn’t need to bring charges against men.

He knows they are guilty.

So he doesn’t need to have them appear in his court to be judged.

²⁴He destroys the mighty without asking them questions in court.

Then he sets others up in their places.

²⁵He knows what they do.

So he crushes them during the night.

²⁶He punishes them for the sins they commit.

He does it where everyone can see them.

²⁷That’s because they turned away from following him.

They didn’t have respect for anything he does.

²⁸They caused poor people to cry out to him.

He heard the cries of those who were in need.

²⁹But if he remains silent, who can judge him?

If he turns his face away, who can see him?

He rules over people and nations alike.

³⁰He keeps those who are ungodly from ruling.

He keeps them from laying traps for others.