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"Hear my words, you wise men; Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
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For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food.
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Let us choose justice for ourselves; Let us know among ourselves what is good.
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"For Job has said, 'I am righteous, But God has taken away my justice;
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Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'
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What man is like Job, Who drinks scorn like water,
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Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men?
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For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing That he should delight in God.'
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"Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to commit iniquity.
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For He repays man according to his work, And makes man to find a reward according to his way.
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Surely God will never do wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
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Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world?
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If He should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,
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All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.
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"If you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words:
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Should one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who is most just?
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Is it fitting to say to a king, 'You are worthless,' And to nobles, 'You are wicked'?
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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.
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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.
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"For His eyes are on the ways of man, And He sees all his steps.
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There is no darkness nor shadow of death Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
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For He need not further consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.
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He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place.
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Therefore he knows their works; He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed.
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He strikes them as wicked men In the open sight of others,
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Because they turned back from Him, And would not consider any of His ways,
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So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him; For He hears the cry of the afflicted.
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When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble? And when He hides His face, who then can see Him, Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?--
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That the hypocrite should not reign, Lest the people be ensnared.
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"For has anyone said to God, ' I have borne chastening; I will offend no more;
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Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will do no more'?
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Should He repay it according to your terms, Just because you disavow it? You must choose, and not I; Therefore speak what you know.
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"Men of understanding say to me, Wise men who listen to me:
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'Job speaks without knowledge, His words are without wisdom.'
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Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost, Because his answers are like those of wicked men!
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For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God."