8. Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,And walks with wicked men?
9. For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothingThat he should delight in God.’
10. “Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding:Far be it from God to do wickedness,And from the Almighty to commit iniquity.
11. For He repays man according to his work,And makes man to find a reward according to his way.
12. Surely God will never do wickedly,Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13. Who gave Him charge over the earth?Or who appointed Him over the whole world?
14. If He should set His heart on it,If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,
15. All flesh would perish together,And man would return to dust.
16. “If you have understanding, hear this;Listen to the sound of my words:
17. Should one who hates justice govern?Will you condemn Him who is most just?
18. Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?
19. Yet He is not partial to princes,Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;For they are all the work of His hands.
20. In a moment they die, in the middle of the night;The people are shaken and pass away;The mighty are taken away without a hand.
21. “For His eyes are on the ways of man,And He sees all his steps.
22. There is no darkness nor shadow of deathWhere 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. He 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 menIn the open sight of others,
27. Because they turned back from Him,And would not consider any of His ways,
28. So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him;For He hears the cry of the afflicted.