Job 34:18-34

¹⁸He's the one who tells kings, ‘You're useless!’ or says to nobles, ‘You're wicked!’

¹⁹He doesn't think more of the rich than the poor, for they are all people he himself made.

²⁰They die in a moment; at midnight they shudder and pass away; the mighty are gone without effort.

²¹For he watches what they're doing and sees everywhere they go.

²²There is no darkness so deep where people who do evil can hide themselves from him.

²³God doesn't need to examine anyone in any greater detail that they should come before him for judgment.

²⁴He brings down the mighty without needing an investigation; he sets up others in their place.

²⁵Knowing what they've done he overthrows them in a night and destroys them.

²⁶He strikes them down for their wickedness in public where they can be seen

²⁷because they turned away from following him, disregarding all his ways.

²⁸They made the poor call out to him, and he heard the cries of the oppressed.

²⁹Yet if God wants to remain silent, who can condemn him? If he chooses to hide his face, who can see him? Whether it concerns a nation or an individual,

³⁰a person who rejects God should not rule so they don't mislead people.

³¹If you were to say to God, ‘I have sinned, but I won't do bad things any more.

³²Show me what I cannot see. If I have done wrong, I won't do it again,’

³³then should God reward you for following your own opinions since you have rejected his? You're the one who has to choose, not me! Tell us what you think.

³⁴For people who understand—those who are wise who have heard what I said—will tell me,