The earth is given into the hand of the wicked;
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked, and the judges' faces are covered; if not by God, then by whom.
This verse broadens Job's complaint from his own case to the order of the world.
1Then Job answered: 2“Yes, I know that it is so, 3If one wished to contend with God, 4God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. 5He moves mountains without their knowledge 6He shakes the earth from its place, 7He commands the sun not to shine; 8He alone stretches out the heavens 9He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, 10He does great things beyond searching out, 11Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; 12If He takes away, who can stop Him? 13God does not restrain His anger; 14How then can I answer Him 15For even if I were right, I could not answer. 16If I summoned Him and He answered me, 17For He would crush me with a tempest 18He does not let me catch my breath, 19If it is a matter of strength, 20Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me; 21Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; 22It is all the same, and so I say, 23When the scourge brings sudden death, 24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; 25My days are swifter than a runner; 26They sweep by like boats of papyrus, 27If I were to say, ‘I will forget my complaint 28I would still dread all my sufferings; 29Since I am already found guilty, 30If I should wash myself with snow 31then You would plunge me into the pit, 32For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, 33Nor is there a mediator between us, 34Let Him remove His rod from me, 35Then I would speak without fear of Him.