34. If people crush underfootall the prisoners of the land,
35. if they deprive others of their rightsin defiance of the Most High,
36. if they twist justice in the courts—doesn’t the Lord see all these things?
37. Who can command things to happenwithout the Lord’s permission?
38. Does not the Most Highsend both calamity and good?
39. Then why should we, mere humans, complainwhen we are punished for our sins?
40. Instead, let us test and examine our ways.Let us turn back to the lord.
41. Let us lift our hearts and handsto God in heaven and say,
42. “We have sinned and rebelled,and you have not forgiven us.