2
|
"Listen to me, you wise men. Pay attention, you who have knowledge. |
3
|
Job said, 'The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.' |
4
|
So let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good. |
5
|
For Job also said, 'I am innocent, but God has taken away my rights. |
6
|
I am innocent, but they call me a liar. My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.' |
7
|
"Tell me, has there ever been a man like Job, with his thirst for irreverent talk? |
8
|
He chooses evil people as companions. He spends his time with wicked men. |
9
|
He has even said, 'Why waste time trying to please God?' |
10
|
"Listen to me, you who have understanding. Everyone knows that God doesn't sin! The Almighty can do no wrong. |
11
|
He repays people according to their deeds. He treats people as they deserve. |
12
|
Truly, God will not do wrong. The Almighty will not twist justice. |
13
|
Did someone else put the world in his care? Who set the whole world in place? |
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. |
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. |
31
|
"Why don't people say to God, 'I have sinned, but I will sin no more'? |
32
|
Or 'I don't know what evil I have done-- tell me. If I have done wrong, I will stop at once'? |
33
|
"Must God tailor his justice to your demands? But you have rejected him! The choice is yours, not mine. Go ahead, share your wisdom with us. |
34
|
After all, bright people will tell me, and wise people will hear me say, |
35
|
'Job speaks out of ignorance; his words lack insight.' |
36
|
Job, you deserve the maximum penalty for the wicked way you have talked. |
37
|
For you have added rebellion to your sin; you show no respect, and you speak many angry words against God." |
Job 34:1 English Language Bible Words basic statistical display
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