Job 34:26–30

26 He strikes them for their wickedness

in a place for all to see,

27 because they turned aside from following him

and had no regard for any of his ways,

28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him,

and he heard the cry of the afflicted—

29 When he is quiet, who can condemn?

When he hides his face, who can behold him,

whether it be a nation or a man?—

30 that a godless man should not reign,

that he should not ensnare the people.

26 He striketh them as wicked men

In the open sight of others;

27 Because they turned back from him,

And would not consider any of his ways:

28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him,

And he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

29 When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?

And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him?

Whether it be done against a nation,

Or against a man only:

30 That the hypocrite reign not,

Lest the people be ensnared.

26 He strikes them down because they are wicked,

doing it openly for all to see.

27 For they turned away from following him.

They have no respect for any of his ways.

28 They cause the poor to cry out, catching God’s attention.

He hears the cries of the needy.

29 But if he chooses to remain quiet,

who can criticize him?

When he hides his face, no one can find him,

whether an individual or a nation.

30 He prevents the godless from ruling

so they cannot be a snare to the people.

26 He strikes them as wicked men

In the open sight of others,

27 Because they turned back from Him,

And would not consider any of His ways,

28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him;

For He hears the cry of the afflicted.

29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?

And when He hides His face, who then can see Him,

Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?—

30 That the hypocrite should not reign,

Lest the people be ensnared.

26 He punishes them for the evil they do

so that everyone else can watch,

27 because they stopped following God

and did not care about any of his ways.

28 The cry of the poor comes to God;

he hears the cry of the needy.

29 But if God keeps quiet, who can blame him?

If he hides his face, who can see him?

God still rules over both nations and persons alike.

30 He keeps the wicked from ruling

and from trapping others.

26 He striketh them as wicked men

In the open sight of others;

27 Because they turned aside from following him,

And would not have regard in any of his ways:

28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him,

And he heard the cry of the afflicted.

29 When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn?

And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him?

Alike whether it be done unto a nation, or unto a man:

30 That the godless man reign not,

That there be none to ensnare the people.

26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others, 27 Because they have turned back from him, and would consider none of his ways; 28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted. 29 When he giveth quietness, who then will disturb? and when he hideth his face, who shall behold him? and this towards a nation, or towards a man alike; 30 That the ungodly man reign not, that the people be not ensnared.

26 In return for their evil, he strikes them in public, 

27 because they turned away from following him 

and didn’t consider any of his ways. 

28 They forced the poor to cry out to him, 

and he hears the cry of those who suffer. 

29 If he keeps quiet, who can condemn him? 

If he hides his face, who can see him 

whether it is a nation or a single person? 

30 ⸤He does this⸥ so that godless people cannot rule 

and so that they cannot trap people. 

26 In full view of the public,

He strikes them for their wickedness,

27 because they turned aside from following Him

and did not understand any of His ways

28 but caused the poor to cry out to Him,

and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.

29 But 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,

30 so that godless men should not rule

or ensnare the people.

26 He strikes them for their wickedness

while others look on,

27 because they turned aside from following him

and had no regard for any of his ways,

28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him,

and he heard the cry of the afflicted—

29 When he is quiet, who can condemn?

When he hides his face, who can behold him?

Whether nation or person, it is the same—

30 so that the godless should not reign

or those who ensnare the people.

26 He strikes them where the wicked stood,

where there are onlookers,

27 because they have turned aside from him

and have not understood any of his ways,

28 so that they cause the cry of distress from the helpless to come to him,

and he hears the cry of distress from the needy,

29 but he remains quiet, and who can condemn?

And he hides his face, and who can behold him?

Yet he is over a nation and over a person alike,

30 so that godless human beings should not reign,

nor those who ensnare the people.

26 He punishes them for the sins they commit.

He does it where everyone can see them.

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

They didn’t have respect for anything he does.

28 They caused poor people to cry out to him.

He heard the cries of those who were in need.

29 But 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.

30 He keeps those who are ungodly from ruling.

He keeps them from laying traps for others.

26 “He strikes them like the wicked

In a public place,

27 Because they turned aside from following Him,

And had no regard for any of His ways;

28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him,

And that He might hear the cry of the afflicted—

29 When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn?

And when He hides His face, who then can behold Him,

That is, in regard to both nation and man?—

30 So that godless men would not rule

Nor be snares of the people.