Suppose a nation falls into the power of sinful people. Then God makes its judges blind to the truth. If he isn’t the one doing it, who is?

世界交在恶人手中；蒙蔽世界审判官的脸，若不是他，是谁呢？

世界交在恶人手中；他蒙蔽世界审判官的脸，若不是他，那么是谁呢？

世界交在恶人手中；他蒙蔽世界审判官的脸，若不是他，那么是谁呢？

大地落入恶人手中，蒙敝审判官眼睛的不是祂是谁？

全世界交在恶人的手中，他蒙蔽世上审判官的脸，如果不是他，那么是谁呢？

世界交在惡人手中；蒙蔽世界審判官的臉，若不是他，是誰呢？

世界交在惡人手中；他蒙蔽世界審判官的臉，若不是他，那麼是誰呢？

世界交在惡人手中；他蒙蔽世界審判官的臉，若不是他，那麼是誰呢？

大地落入惡人手中，蒙蔽審判官眼睛的不是祂是誰？

全世界交在惡人的手中，他蒙蔽世上審判官的臉，如果不是他，那麼是誰呢？

地上交於惡人手中；地上審判官的臉、是他蒙蔽着；若不是他，那麼是誰呢？

世界付於惡人之手、蒙蔽鞫者之面、為之者、非上帝而誰、

當今之世、惡人當路、良吏韜晦、使之者非主而誰。

世界付於惡人手、治世之人、面俱蒙蔽、使之者非天主而誰、

When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, then who is it?

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges— if it is not he, who then is it?

The whole earth is in the hands of the wicked, and God blinds the eyes of the judges. If he’s not the one who does it, who is?

The earth is handed over to the wicked; he blindfolds its judges. If it isn’t he, then who is it?

The earth is handed over to the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, who else could it be?

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covereth the faces of the judges thereof: If it be not he, who then is it?

The earth is handed over to the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it isn’t He, then who is it?

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where,[ and] who[ is] he?

If a land has been given into the hand of a wicked man, he covers the faces of its judges; if it is not he, then who is it?

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If not he, then who is it?

Does it make you happy when you crush me? Does it please you to turn your back on what you have made? While you do those things, you smile on the plans of sinful people!

“ Who can prove that what I’m saying is wrong? Who can prove that my words aren’t true?”

You have made people to be like the fish in the sea. They are like the sea creatures that don’t have a ruler.The evil Babylonians pull all of them up with hooks. They catch them in their nets. They gather them up. So they celebrate. They are glad.They offer sacrifices to their nets. They burn incense to them. Their nets allow them to live in great comfort. They enjoy the finest food.Are you going to let them keep on emptying their nets? Will they go on destroying nations without showing them any mercy?

“ Your Majesty, the Most High God was good to your father Nebuchadnezzar. He gave him authority and greatness and glory and honor.God gave him a high position. Then people from every nation became afraid of the king. That was true no matter what language they spoke. The king put to death anyone he wanted to. He spared anyone he wanted to spare. He gave high positions to anyone he wanted to. And he brought down anyone he wanted to bring down.But his heart became very stubborn and proud. So he was removed from his royal throne. His glory was stripped away from him.He was driven away from people. He was given the mind of an animal. He lived with the wild donkeys. He ate grass just as an ox does. His body became wet with the dew of heaven. He stayed that way until he recognized that the Most High God rules over all kingdoms on earth. He puts anyone he wants to in charge of them.

After that, Mordecai returned to the palace gate. But Haman rushed home. He covered his head because he was very sad.

Why do sinful people keep on living? The older they grow, the richer they get.They see their children grow up around them. They watch their family grow larger.Their homes are safe. They don’t have to be afraid. God isn’t punishing them.Every time their bulls mate, their cows become pregnant. And the calves don’t die before they are born.Sinful people send their children out like a flock of lambs. Their little ones dance around.They sing to the music of tambourines and lyres. They have a good time while flutes are being played.Those who are evil spend their years living well. They go down to their graves in peace.But they say to God,‘ Leave us alone! We don’t want to know how you want us to live.Who is the Mighty One? Why should we serve him? What would we get if we prayed to him?’

The king returned from the palace garden to the dinner hall. Just then he saw Haman falling on the couch where Esther was lying. The king shouted,“ Will he even treat the queen like this? Will he harm her while she’s right here with me in the palace?” As soon as the king finished speaking, his men covered Haman’s face.

But David went on up the Mount of Olives. He was weeping as he went. His head was covered, and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too. And they were weeping as they went up.

Lord, by your power save me from people like that. They belong to this world. They get their reward in this life. May what you have stored up for evil people fill their bellies. May their children’s stomachs be filled with it. And may there even be leftovers for their little ones.

Why doesn’t anyone bother the tents of robbers? Why do those who make God angry remain secure? They are in God’s hands!“ But ask the animals what God does. They will teach you. Or ask the birds in the sky. They will tell you.Or speak to the earth. It will teach you. Or let the fish in the ocean educate you.Are there any of these creatures that don’t know what the powerful hand of the Lord has done?He holds the life of every creature in his hand. He controls the breath of every human being.

He removes the wisdom of rulers and leads them away. He makes judges look foolish.

God has turned me over to sinful people. He has handed me over to them.

“ After that, in my vision I looked up and saw a fourth animal. It was terrifying and very powerful. It had large iron teeth. It crushed those it attacked and ate them up. It stomped on anything that was left. It was different from the other animals. And it had ten horns.“ I thought about the horns. Then I saw another horn. It was a little one. It grew up among the other horns. Three of the first horns were pulled up by their roots to make room for it. The little horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being. Its mouth was always bragging.“ As I watched,“ thrones were set in place. The Eternal God took his seat. His clothes were as white as snow. The hair on his head was white like wool. His throne was blazing with fire. And flames were all around its wheels.A river of fire was flowing. It was coming out from in front of God. Thousands and thousands of angels served him. Millions of them stood in front of him. The court was seated. And the books were opened.“ Then I continued to watch because of the way the horn was bragging. I kept looking until the fourth animal was killed. I watched until its body was destroyed. It was thrown into the blazing fire.The authority of the other animals had been stripped away from them. But they were allowed to live for a period of time.“ In my vision I saw one who looked like a son of man. He was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Eternal God. He was led right up to him.And he was given authority, glory and a kingdom. People of all nations, no matter what language they spoke, worshiped him. His authority will last forever. It will not pass away. His kingdom will never be destroyed.“ My spirit was troubled. The visions that passed through my mind upset me.I approached an angel who was standing there. I asked him what all these things really meant.“ So he explained to me what everything meant.He said,‘ The four large animals stand for four kings. The kings will appear on the earth.But the holy people of the Most High God will receive the kingdom. They will possess it forever. It will belong to them for ever and ever.’“ Then I wanted to know what the fourth animal stood for. It was different from the others. It was the most terrifying of all. It had iron teeth and bronze claws. It crushed everyone it attacked and ate them up. It stomped on anything that was left.I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head. And I wanted to know about the other horn that grew up later. It caused three of the ten horns to fall out. It appeared to be stronger than the others. It had eyes. And its mouth was always bragging.I saw that the horn was at war with God’s holy people. It was winning the battle over them.But then the Eternal God came. He decided in favor of his holy people. So the time came when the kingdom was given to them.“ Here’s how the angel explained it to me. He said,‘ The fourth animal stands for a fourth kingdom. It will appear on earth. It will be different from the other kingdoms. It will eat up the whole earth. It will stomp on it and crush it.The ten horns stand for ten kings. They will come from the fourth kingdom. After them another king will appear. He will be different from the earlier ones. He’ll bring three kings under his control.He’ll speak against the Most High God. He’ll treat God’s holy people badly. He will try to change the times and laws that were given by God. God’s holy people will be placed under his power for three and a half years.“‘ But the court will be seated. And the power of that king will be taken away from him. It will be completely destroyed forever.Then the authority, power and greatness of all the kingdoms on earth will be taken from them. And all they had will be given to the holy people of the Most High God. His kingdom will last forever. Every ruler will worship and obey him.’“ That’s all I saw. My thoughts deeply troubled me. My face turned pale. But I kept those things to myself.”

The ground is dry and cracked. There isn’t any rain in the land. The farmers are terrified. They cover their heads.

I saw that proud and sinful people were doing well. And I began to long for what they had.They don’t have any troubles. Their bodies are healthy and strong.They don’t have the problems most people have. They don’t suffer as other people do.Their pride is like a necklace. They put on meanness as if it were their clothes.Many sins come out of their hard and stubborn hearts. There is no limit to the evil things they can think up.

Lord, when I bring a matter to you, you always do what is right. But now I would like to speak with you about whether you are being fair. Why are sinful people successful? Why do those who can’t be trusted have an easy life?You have planted them. Their roots are deep in the ground. They grow and produce fruit. They honor you by what they say. But their hearts are far away from you.

The king covered his face. He cried loudly,“ My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”

But Elihu the Buzite was very angry with Job. That’s because Job said he himself was right instead of God. Elihu was the son of Barakel. He was from the family of Ram.

“‘ The decision is announced by holy messengers. So all who are alive will know that the Most High God is King. He rules over all kingdoms on earth. He gives them to anyone he wants. Sometimes he puts the least important people in charge of them.’