Job 34:16-30

New International Version

¹⁶ “If you have understanding,^(A) hear this;
    listen to what I say.^(B)
17 Can someone who hates justice govern?^(C)
    Will you condemn the just and mighty One?^(D)
18 Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
    and to nobles,^(E) ‘You are wicked,’^(F)
19 who shows no partiality^(G) to princes
    and does not favor the rich over the poor,^(H)
    for they are all the work of his hands?^(I)
20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;^(J)
    the people are shaken and they pass away;
    the mighty are removed without human hand.^(K)

²¹ “His eyes are on the ways of mortals;^(L)
    he sees their every step.^(M)
22 There is no deep shadow,^(N) no utter darkness,^(O)
    where evildoers can hide.^(P)
23 God has no need to examine people further,^(Q)
    that they should come before him for judgment.^(R)
24 Without inquiry he shatters^(S) the mighty^(T)
    and sets up others in their place.^(U)
25 Because he takes note of their deeds,^(V)
    he overthrows them in the night^(W) and they are crushed.^(X)
26 He punishes them for their wickedness^(Y)
    where everyone can see them,
²⁷ because they turned from following him^(Z)
    and had no regard for any of his ways.^(AA)
28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
    so that he heard the cry of the needy.^(AB)
29 But if he remains silent,^(AC) who can condemn him?^(AD)
    If he hides his face,^(AE) who can see him?
Yet he is over individual and nation alike,^(AF)
30     to keep the godless^(AG) from ruling,^(AH)
    from laying snares for the people.^(AI)