IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME

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

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

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

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

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

³¹ “Suppose someone says to God,
    ‘I am guilty but will offend no more.
³² Teach me what I cannot see;
    if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’
³³ Should God then reward you on your terms,
    when you refuse to repent?
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;
    his words lack insight.’
³⁶ Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
    for answering like a wicked man!
³⁷ To his sin he adds rebellion;
    scornfully he claps his hands among us
    and multiplies his words against God.”