Job 34:21–30
21 “For rHis eyes are on the ways of man,
And He sees all his steps.
22 sThere is no darkness nor shadow of death
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For He need not further consider a man,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24 tHe breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,
And sets others in their place.
25 Therefore He knows their works;
He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
26 He strikes them as wicked men
In the open sight of others,
27 Because they uturned back from Him,
And vwould not consider any of His ways,
28 So that they wcaused the cry of the poor to come to Him;
For He xhears 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.
Job 34:21–30 — The New International Version (NIV)
21 “His eyes are on the ways of mortals;
he sees their every step.
22 There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness,
where evildoers can hide.
23 God has no need to examine people further,
that they should come before him for judgment.
24 Without inquiry he shatters the mighty
and sets up others in their place.
25 Because he takes note of their deeds,
he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
26 He punishes them for their wickedness
where everyone can see them,
27 because they turned from following him
and had no regard for any of his ways.
28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
so that he heard the cry of the needy.
29 But if he remains silent, who can condemn him?
If he hides his face, who can see him?
Yet he is over individual and nation alike,
30 to keep the godless from ruling,
from laying snares for the people.
Job 34:21–30 — English Standard Version (ESV)
21 “For his eyes are on the ways of a man,
and he sees all his steps.
22 There is no gloom or deep darkness
where evildoers may hide themselves.
23 For God has no need to consider a man further,
that he should go before God in judgment.
24 He shatters the mighty without investigation
and sets others in their place.
25 Thus, knowing their works,
he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
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.
Job 34:21–30 — King James Version (KJV 1900)
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man,
And he seeth all his goings.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death,
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For he will not lay upon man more than right;
That he should enter into judgment with God.
24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number,
And set others in their stead.
25 Therefore he knoweth their works,
And he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
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.
Job 34:21–30 — New Living Translation (NLT)
21 “For God watches how people live;
he sees everything they do.
22 No darkness is thick enough
to hide the wicked from his eyes.
23 We don’t set the time
when we will come before God in judgment.
24 He brings the mighty to ruin without asking anyone,
and he sets up others in their place.
25 He knows what they do,
and in the night he overturns and destroys them.
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.
Job 34:21–30 — New Century Version (NCV)
21 “God watches where people go;
he sees every step they take.
22 There is no dark place or deep shadow
where those who do evil can hide from him.
23 He does not set a time
for people to come before him for judging.
24 Without asking questions, God breaks powerful people into pieces
and puts others in their place.
25 Because God knows what people do,
he defeats them in the night, and they are crushed.
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.
Job 34:21–30 — American Standard Version (ASV)
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of a man,
And he seeth all his goings.
22 There is no darkness, nor thick gloom,
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For he needeth not further to consider a man,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24 He breaketh in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out,
And setteth others in their stead.
25 Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works;
And he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
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.
Job 34:21–30 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his steps. 22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. 23 For he doth not long consider a man, to bring him before •God in judgment. 24 He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquiry, and setteth others in their stead; 25 Since he knoweth their actions; and he overthroweth them in the night, and they are crushed. 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.
Job 34:21–30 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
21 God’s eyes are on a person’s ways.
He sees all his steps.
22 There’s no darkness or deep shadow
where troublemakers can hide.
23 He doesn’t have to set a time for a person
in order to bring him to divine judgment.
24 He breaks mighty people into pieces without examining them
and puts others in their places.
25 He knows what they do,
so he overthrows them at night, and they’re crushed.
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.
Job 34:21–30 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
21 For His eyes watch over a man’s ways,
and He observes all his steps.
22 There is no darkness, no deep darkness,
where evildoers can hide themselves.
23 God does not need to examine a person further,
that one should approach Him in court.
24 He shatters the mighty without an investigation
and sets others in their place.
25 Therefore, He recognizes their deeds
and overthrows them by night, and they are crushed.
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.
Job 34:21–30 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
21 “For his eyes are upon the ways of mortals,
and he sees all their steps.
22 There is no gloom or deep darkness
where evildoers may hide themselves.
23 For he has not appointed a time for anyone
to go before God in judgment.
24 He shatters the mighty without investigation,
and sets others in their place.
25 Thus, knowing their works,
he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
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 it be a nation or an individual?—
30 so that the godless should not reign,
or those who ensnare the people.
Job 34:21–30 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)
21 “Indeed, his eyes are upon the ways of man,
and he sees all his steps.
22 There is no darkness, and there is no deep shadow
where instigators of mischief might hide themselves.
23 Indeed, he has not yet appointed a time for man
to go to God in the judgment.
24 He shatters the mighty without investigation,
and he sets others in their place.
25 Therefore he knows their works,
and he overturns them in the night
so that they are crushed.
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.
Job 34:21–30 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)
21 “His eyes see how people live.
He watches every step they take.
22 There isn’t a dark place or deep shadow
where those who do what is evil can hide.
23 God 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.
24 He destroys the mighty without asking them questions in court.
Then he sets others up in their places.
25 He knows what they do.
So he crushes them during the night.
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.
Job 34:21–30 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)
21 “For His eyes are upon the ways of a man,
And He sees all his steps.
22 “There is no darkness or deep shadow
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 “For He does not need to consider a man further,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24 “He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,
And sets others in their place.
25 “Therefore He knows their works,
And He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
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.