Daily Bread

² “Hear my words, you wise men;
    listen to me,^(A) you men of learning.
³ For the ear tests words
    as the tongue tastes food.^(B)
4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right;^(C)
    let us learn together what is good.^(D)

⁵ “Job says, ‘I am innocent,^(E)
    but God denies me justice.^(F)
6 Although I am right,
    I am considered a liar;^(G)
although I am guiltless,^(H)
    his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’^(I)
7 Is there anyone like Job,
    who drinks scorn like water?^(J)
8 He keeps company with evildoers;
    he associates with the wicked.^(K)
9 For he says, ‘There is no profit
    in trying to please God.’^(L)

¹⁰ “So listen to me,^(M) you men of understanding.^(N)
    Far be it from God to do evil,^(O)
    from the Almighty to do wrong.^(P)
11 He repays everyone for what they have done;^(Q)
    he brings on them what their conduct deserves.^(R)
12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,^(S)
    that the Almighty would pervert justice.^(T)
13 Who appointed^(U) him over the earth?
    Who put him in charge of the whole world?^(V)
14 If it were his intention
    and he withdrew his spirit^[a](W) and breath,^(X)
15 all humanity would perish^(Y) together
    and mankind would return to the dust.^(Z)

¹⁶ “If you have understanding,^(AA) hear this;
    listen to what I say.^(AB)
17 Can someone who hates justice govern?^(AC)
    Will you condemn the just and mighty One?^(AD)
18 Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
    and to nobles,^(AE) ‘You are wicked,’^(AF)
19 who shows no partiality^(AG) to princes
    and does not favor the rich over the poor,^(AH)
    for they are all the work of his hands?^(AI)
20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;^(AJ)
    the people are shaken and they pass away;
    the mighty are removed without human hand.^(AK)

²¹ “His eyes are on the ways of mortals;^(AL)
    he sees their every step.^(AM)
22 There is no deep shadow,^(AN) no utter darkness,^(AO)
    where evildoers can hide.^(AP)
23 God has no need to examine people further,^(AQ)
    that they should come before him for judgment.^(AR)
24 Without inquiry he shatters^(AS) the mighty^(AT)
    and sets up others in their place.^(AU)
25 Because he takes note of their deeds,^(AV)
    he overthrows them in the night^(AW) and they are crushed.^(AX)
26 He punishes them for their wickedness^(AY)
    where everyone can see them,
²⁷ because they turned from following him^(AZ)
    and had no regard for any of his ways.^(BA)
28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
    so that he heard the cry of the needy.^(BB)
29 But if he remains silent,^(BC) who can condemn him?^(BD)
    If he hides his face,^(BE) who can see him?
Yet he is over individual and nation alike,^(BF)
30     to keep the godless^(BG) from ruling,^(BH)
    from laying snares for the people.^(BI)

³¹ “Suppose someone says to God,
    ‘I am guilty^(BJ) but will offend no more.
³² Teach me what I cannot see;^(BK)
    if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’^(BL)
33 Should God then reward you on your terms,
    when you refuse to repent?^(BM)
You must decide, not I;
    so tell me what you know.

³⁴ “Men of understanding declare,
    wise men who hear me say to me,
³⁵ ‘Job speaks without knowledge;^(BN)
    his words lack insight.’^(BO)
36 Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
    for answering like a wicked man!^(BP)
37 To his sin he adds rebellion;
    scornfully he claps his hands^(BQ) among us
    and multiplies his words^(BR) against God.”^(BS)

² “Do you think this is just?
    You say, ‘I am in the right,^(BT) not God.’^(BU)
3 Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me,^[b]
    and what do I gain by not sinning?’^(BV)

⁴ “I would like to reply to you
    and to your friends with you.
⁵ Look up at the heavens^(BW) and see;
    gaze at the clouds so high above you.^(BX)
6 If you sin, how does that affect him?
    If your sins are many, what does that do to him?^(BY)
7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him,^(BZ)
    or what does he receive^(CA) from your hand?^(CB)
8 Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself,^(CC)
    and your righteousness only other people.^(CD)

⁹ “People cry out^(CE) under a load of oppression;^(CF)
    they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.^(CG)
10 But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,^(CH)
    who gives songs^(CI) in the night,^(CJ)
11 who teaches^(CK) us^(CL) more than he teaches^[c] the beasts of the earth
    and makes us wiser than^[d] the birds in the sky?’
¹² He does not answer^(CM) when people cry out
    because of the arrogance^(CN) of the wicked.^(CO)
13 Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea;
    the Almighty pays no attention to it.^(CP)
14 How much less, then, will he listen
    when you say that you do not see him,^(CQ)
that your case^(CR) is before him
    and you must wait for him,^(CS)
15 and further, that his anger never punishes^(CT)
    and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.^[e](CU)
16 So Job opens his mouth with empty talk;^(CV)
    without knowledge he multiplies words.”^(CW)