Job 24
1 But why have the seasons been hidden from the Lord,
Why are times not stored up by the Ruler of all, and why do those who have knowledge of him not see his days?
2 while the ungodly have passed over the bound, carrying off the flock with the shepherd?
The landmarks are changed by evil men, they violently take away flocks, together with their keepers.
3 They have led away, the ass of the fatherless, and taken the widow's ox for a pledge.
They send away the ass of him who has no father, they take the widow's ox for debt.
4 They have turned aside the weak from the right way: and the meek of the earth have hidden themselves together.
The crushed are turned out of the way; all the poor of the earth go into a secret place together.
5 And they have departed like asses in the field, having gone forth on my account according to their own order: his bread is sweet to [his] little ones.
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.
6 They have reaped a field that was not their own before the time: the poor have laboured in the vineyards of the ungodly without pay and without food.
They get mixed grain from the field, and they take away the late fruit from the vines of those who have wealth.
7 They have caused many naked to sleep without clothes, and they have taken away the covering of their body.
They take their rest at night without clothing, and have no cover in the cold.
8 They are wet with the drops of the mountains: they have embraced the rock, because they had no shelter.
They are wet with the rain of the mountains, and get into the cracks of the rock for cover.
9 They have snatched the fatherless from the breast, and have afflicted the outcast.
The child without a father is forced from its mother's breast, and they take the young children of the poor for debt.
10 And they have wrongfully caused [others] to sleep without clothing, and taken away the morsel of the hungry.
Others go about without clothing, and though they have no food, they get in the grain from the fields.
11 They have unrighteously laid wait in narrow places, and have not known the righteous way.
Between the lines of olive-trees they make oil; though they have no drink, they are crushing out the grapes.
12 Who have cast forth [the] poor from the city and their own houses, and the soul of the children has groaned aloud.
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.
13 Why then has he not visited these? forasmuch as they were upon the earth, and took no notice, and they knew not the way of righteousness, neither have they walked in their [appointed] paths?
Then there are those who are haters of the light, who have no knowledge of its ways, and do not go in them.
14 But having known their works, he delivered them into darkness: and in the night one will be as a thief:
He who is purposing death gets up before day, so that he may put to death the poor and those in need.
15 and the eye of the adulterer has watched [for] the darkness, saying, Eye shall not perceive me, and he puts a covering on his face.
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;
16 In darkness he digs through houses: by day they conceal themselves securely: they know not the light.
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.
17 For the morning is to them all [as] the shadow of death, for [each] will be conscious of the terror of the shadow of death.
For the middle of the night is as morning to them, they are not troubled by the fear of the dark.
18 He is swift on the face of the water: let his portion be cursed on the earth; and let their plants be laid bare.
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.
19 [Let them be] withered upon the earth; for they have plundered the sheaves of the fatherless. (Sheol h7585)
Snow waters become dry with the heat: so do sinners go down into the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
20 Then is his sin brought to remembrance, and he vanishes like a vapour of dew: but let what he has done be recompensed to him, and let every unrighteous one be crushed like rotten wood.
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.
21 For he has not treated the barren woman well, and has had no pity on a feeble woman.
He is not kind to the widow, and he has no pity for her child.
22 And in wrath he has overthrown the helpless: therefore when he has arisen, [a man] will not feel secure of his own life.
But God by his power gives long life to the strong; he gets up again, though he has no hope of life.
23 When he has fallen sick, let him not hope to recover: but let him perish by disease.
He takes away his fear of danger and gives him support; and his eyes are on his ways.
24 For his exaltation has hurt many; but he has withered as mallows in the heat, or as an ear of corn falling off of itself from the stalk.
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.
25 But if not, who is he that says I speak falsely, and will make my words of no account?
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?
