American Standard Version of 1901
Versliste
Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding:Far be it from God, that he should do wickedness,And from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
For the work of a man will he render unto him,And cause every man to find according to his ways.
Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly,Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
Who gave him a charge over the earth?Or who hath {Or, laid upon him}disposed the whole world?
{According to another reading, If he cause his heart to return unto himself.}If he set his heart upon {Or, man Hebrew: him.}himself,If he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
All flesh shall perish together,And man shall turn again unto dust.
For hath any said unto God,I have borne chastisement, {Or, though I offend not}I will not offend any more:
That which I see not teach thou me:If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?
Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding:Far be it from God, that he should do wickedness,And from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
For the work of a man will he render unto him,And cause every man to find according to his ways.
Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly,Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
For the work of a man will he render unto him,And cause every man to find according to his ways.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, {Greek: well-pleasing.}acceptable to God, which is your {Greek: belonging to the reason.}spiritual {Or, worship}service.
Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth,Though he hide it under his tongue,
Though he spare it, and will not let it go,But keep it still within his mouth;
Yet his food in his bowels is turned,It is the gall of asps within him.
He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again;God will cast them out of his belly.
Is not God in the height of heaven?And behold the {Hebrew: head.}height of the stars, how high they are!
Who gave him a charge over the earth?Or who hath {Or, laid upon him}disposed the whole world?
{According to another reading, If he cause his heart to return unto himself.}If he set his heart upon {Or, man Hebrew: him.}himself,If he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
All flesh shall perish together,And man shall turn again unto dust.
{Or, Only understand}If now thou hast understanding, hear this:Hearken to the voice of my words.
Shall even one that hateth justice govern?And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous and mighty?—
{The Hebrew as pointed reads, Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art vile? Or, to nobles, Ye are wicked?}Him that saith to a king, Thou art vile,Or to nobles, Ye are wicked;
That respecteth not the persons of princes,Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor;For they all are the work of his hands.
In a moment they die, {Or, and at midnight the people &c.}even at midnight;The people are shaken and pass away,And the mighty are taken away without hand.
For his eyes are upon the ways of a man,And he seeth all his goings.
There is no darkness, nor thick gloom,Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
For he needeth not further to consider a man,That he should go before God in judgment.
He breaketh in pieces mighty men {Or, without inquisition}in ways past finding out,And setteth others in their stead.
Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works;And he overturneth them in the night, so that they are {Hebrew: crushed.}destroyed.
He striketh them as wicked men {Hebrew: In the place of beholders.}In the open sight of others;
Because they turned aside from following him,And would not have regard in any of his ways:
{Or, That they might cause…And that he might hear}So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him,And he heard the cry of the afflicted.
When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn?And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him?Alike whether it be done unto a nation, or unto a man:
That the godless man reign not,That there be none to ensnare the people.
Who can discern his errors?Clear thou me from hidden faults.
Job speaketh without knowledge,And his words are without wisdom.
Would that Job were tried unto the end,Because of his answering like wicked men.
For he addeth rebellion unto his sin;He clappeth his hands among us,And multiplieth his words against God.