2  “Hear my words, you wise men,

and give ear to me, you who know;

3  for ⁱthe ear tests words

as the palate tastes food.

4  Let us choose what is right;

let us know among ourselves what is good.

5  For Job has said, ‘I am in the ^jright,

and ^kGod has taken away my right;

6  in spite of my right I am counted a liar;

my wound is incurable, though ^lI am without transgression.’

7  What man is like Job,

who ^mdrinks up scoffing like water,

8  who travels in company with evildoers

and walks with wicked men?

9  For he has said, ⁿ‘It profits a man nothing

that he should take delight in God.’

10  “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding:

^ofar be it from God that he should do wickedness,

and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.

11  For ^paccording to the work of a man he will repay him,

and according to his ways he will make it befall him.

12  Of a truth, ^qGod will not do wickedly,

and the Almighty will not ^rpervert justice.

13  ^sWho gave him charge over the earth,

and who laid on him¹ the whole world?

14  If he should set his heart to it

and ^tgather to himself ^uhis spirit and his breath,

15  all flesh would perish together,

and man would ^vreturn to dust.