Job 34:21-37

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

²¹ “For his eyes are upon the ways of mortals,
    and he sees all their steps.^(A)
22 There is no gloom or deep darkness
    where evildoers may hide themselves.^(B)
23 For he has not appointed a time^[a] for anyone
    to go before God in judgment.
²⁴ He shatters the mighty without investigation
    and sets others in their place.^(C)
25 Thus, knowing their works,
    he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.^(D)
26 He strikes them for their wickedness
    while others look on,^(E)
27 because they turned aside from following him
    and had no regard for any of his ways,^(F)
28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him,
    and he heard the cry of the afflicted—^(G)
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—^(H)
30 so that the godless should not reign
    or those who ensnare the people.^(I)

³¹ “For has anyone said to God,
    ‘I have endured punishment; I will not offend any more;
³² teach me what I do not see;
    if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?^(J)
33 Will he then pay back to suit you
    because you reject it?
For you must choose and not I;
    therefore declare what you know.^[b]
34 Those who have sense will say to me,
    and the wise who hear me will say,
³⁵ ‘Job speaks without knowledge;
    his words are without insight.’^(K)
36 Would that Job were tried to the limit,
    because his answers are those of the wicked.^(L)
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin;
    he claps his hands among us
    and multiplies his words against God.”