10. “Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
11. For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12. Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
13. Who put him in charge of the earth? or who has appointed him over the whole world?
14. If he set his heart on himself, If he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,
15. all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.
16. “If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.
17. Shall even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty?—
18. Who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?
19. Who doesn’t respect the persons of princes, nor respects the rich more than the poor; for they all are the work of his hands.
20. In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand.
21. “For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.
22. There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23. For he doesn’t need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.
24. He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.
25. Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
26. He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
27. because they turned aside from following him, and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways,
28. so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. He heard the cry of the afflicted.