Pause a moment, Job, and listen; consider the wonderful things God does.

When I look at the sky, which you have made, at the moon and the stars, which you set in their places---

May those who are wise think about these things; may they consider the LORD's constant love.

At your feasts you have harps and tambourines and flutes---and wine. But you don't understand what the LORD is doing,

You can't straighten out what is crooked; you can't count things that aren't there.

He takes what he wants, and no one can stop him; no one dares ask him, "What are you doing?"

If God arrests you and brings you to trial, who is there to stop him?

When God tears down, who can rebuild, and who can free those God imprisons?

If God decided to do nothing at all, no one could criticize him. If he hid his face, we would be helpless.

The LORD Almighty is determined to do this; he has stretched out his arm to punish, and no one can stop him.

I am God and always will be. No one can escape from my power; no one can change what I do."

From the beginning I predicted the outcome; long ago I foretold what would happen. I said that my plans would never fail, that I would do everything I intended to do.

I am calling a man to come from the east; he will swoop down like a hawk and accomplish what I have planned. I have spoken, and it will be done.

He looks on the people of the earth as nothing; angels in heaven and people on earth are under his control. No one can oppose his will or question what he does.

For he said to Moses, "I will have mercy on anyone I wish; I will take pity on anyone I wish."

But one of you will say to me, "If this is so, how can God find fault with anyone? Who can resist God's will?"

All things are done according to God's plan and decision; and God chose us to be his own people in union with Christ because of his own purpose, based on what he had decided from the very beginning.