Job 24
1 Why are times not stored up by the Ruler of all, and why do those who have knowledge of him not see his days?
Why are not times treasured up by the Almighty? And why do not they who know him see his days?
2 The landmarks are changed by evil men, they violently take away flocks, together with their keepers.
They remove landmarks; They take away flocks by violence, and pasture them.
3 They send away the ass of him who has no father, they take the widow's ox for debt.
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, And take the widow's ox for a pledge.
4 The crushed are turned out of the way; all the poor of the earth go into a secret place together.
They push the needy from the way; All the poor of the land are forced to hide themselves.
5 Like asses in the waste land they go out to their work, looking for food with care; from the waste land they get bread for their children.
Behold, like wild asses of the desert, they go forth to their work; They search for prey; The wilderness supplieth them food for their children.
6 They get mixed grain from the field, and they take away the late fruit from the vines of those who have wealth.
In the fields they reap the harvest, And gather the vintage of the oppressor.
7 They take their rest at night without clothing, and have no cover in the cold.
They lodge naked, without clothing, And without covering from the cold.
8 They are wet with the rain of the mountains, and get into the cracks of the rock for cover.
They are drenched with the mountain showers, And embrace the rock for want of shelter.
9 The child without a father is forced from its mother's breast, and they take the young children of the poor for debt.
The fatherless are torn from the breast, And the garment of the needy is taken for a pledge.
10 Others go about without clothing, and though they have no food, they get in the grain from the fields.
They go naked, without clothing, And carry the sheaf hungry.
11 Between the lines of olive-trees they make oil; though they have no drink, they are crushing out the grapes.
They make oil within their walls, And tread the wine-vat, yet suffer thirst.
12 From the town come sounds of pain from those who are near death, and the soul of the wounded is crying out for help; but God does not take note of their prayer.
From anguish the dying groan, And the wounded cry aloud; And God regardeth not their prayer!
13 Then there are those who are haters of the light, who have no knowledge of its ways, and do not go in them.
Others hate the light; They know not its ways, And abide not in its paths.
14 He who is purposing death gets up before day, so that he may put to death the poor and those in need.
With the light ariseth the murderer; He killeth the poor and needy; In the night he is as a thief.
15 And the man whose desire is for the wife of another is waiting for the evening, saying, No eye will see me; and he puts a cover on his face. And in the night the thief goes about;
The eye of the adulterer watcheth for the twilight; He saith, “No eye will see me,” And putteth a mask upon his face.
16 In the dark he makes holes in the walls of houses: in the daytime they are shutting themselves up, they have no knowledge of the light.
In the dark they break into houses; In the daytime they shut themselves up; They are strangers to the light.
17 For the middle of the night is as morning to them, they are not troubled by the fear of the dark.
The morning is to them the very shadow of death; They are familiar with the terrors of the shadow of death.
18 They go quickly on the face of the waters; their heritage is cursed in the earth; the steps of the crusher of grapes are not turned to their vine-garden.
Light are they on the face of the waters; They have an accursed portion in the earth; They come not near the vineyards.
As drought and heat consume the snow waters, So doth the grave the wicked. (Sheol h7585)
20 The public place of his town has no more knowledge of him, and his name has gone from the memory of men: he is rooted up like a dead tree.
His own mother forgetteth him; The worm feedeth sweetly on him; He is no more remembered, And iniquity is broken like a tree.
21 He is not kind to the widow, and he has no pity for her child.
He oppresseth the barren, that hath not borne, And doeth not good to the widow.
22 But God by his power gives long life to the strong; he gets up again, though he has no hope of life.
He taketh away the mighty by his power; He riseth up, and no one is sure of life.
23 He takes away his fear of danger and gives him support; and his eyes are on his ways.
God giveth them security, so that they are confident; His eyes are upon their ways.
24 For a short time they are lifted up; then they are gone; they are made low, they are pulled off like fruit, and like the heads of grain they are cut off.
They are exalted; —in a little while they are gone! They are brought low, and die, like all others; And like the topmost ears of corn are they cut off.
25 And if it is not so, now, who will make it clear that my words are false, and that what I say is of no value?
If it be not so, who will confute me, And show my discourse to be worthless?
