Job 24
1 But why have the seasons been hidden from the Lord,
Howe should not the times be hid from the Almightie, seeing that they which knowe him, see not his dayes?
2 while the ungodly have passed over the bound, carrying off the flock with the shepherd?
Some remoue the land marks, that rob the flockes and feede thereof.
3 They have led away, the ass of the fatherless, and taken the widow's ox for a pledge.
They leade away the asse of the fatherles: and take the widowes oxe to pledge.
4 They have turned aside the weak from the right way: and the meek of the earth have hidden themselves together.
They make the poore to turne out of the way, so that the poore of the earth hide themselues 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.
Behold, others as wilde asses in the wildernesse, goe forth to their businesse, and rise early for a praye: the wildernesse giueth him and his children foode.
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 reape his prouision in the fielde, but they gather the late vintage of the wicked.
7 They have caused many naked to sleep without clothes, and they have taken away the covering of their body.
They cause the naked to lodge without garment, and without couering in the colde.
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 showres of the moutaines, and they imbrace the rocke for want of a couering.
9 They have snatched the fatherless from the breast, and have afflicted the outcast.
They plucke the fatherles from the breast, and take the pledge of the poore.
10 And they have wrongfully caused [others] to sleep without clothing, and taken away the morsel of the hungry.
They cause him to go naked without clothing, and take the glening from the hungrie.
11 They have unrighteously laid wait in narrow places, and have not known the righteous way.
They that make oyle betweene their walles, and treade their wine presses, suffer thirst.
12 Who have cast forth [the] poor from the city and their own houses, and the soul of the children has groaned aloud.
Men cry out of the citie, and the soules of the slayne cry out: yet God doth not charge them with follie.
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?
These are they, that abhorre the light: they know not the wayes thereof, nor continue in the paths thereof.
14 But having known their works, he delivered them into darkness: and in the night one will be as a thief:
The murtherer riseth earely and killeth the poore and the needie: and in the night he is as a theefe.
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.
The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, and sayth, None eye shall see me, and disguiseth his face.
16 In darkness he digs through houses: by day they conceal themselves securely: they know not the light.
They digge through houses in the darke, which they marked for themselues in the daye: they knowe not 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.
But the morning is euen to them as the shadow of death: if one knowe them, they are in the terrours of the shadowe of death.
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.
He is swift vpon the waters: their portion shalbe cursed in the earth: he will not behold the way of the vineyardes.
19 [Let them be] withered upon the earth; for they have plundered the sheaves of the fatherless. (Sheol h7585)
As the dry ground and heate consume the snowe waters, so shall the graue the sinners. (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 pitifull man shall forget him: the worme shall feele his sweetenes: he shalbe no more remembered, and the wicked shalbe broke like a tree.
21 For he has not treated the barren woman well, and has had no pity on a feeble woman.
He doth euil intreat ye barren, that doeth not beare, neither doeth he good to the widowe.
22 And in wrath he has overthrown the helpless: therefore when he has arisen, [a man] will not feel secure of his own life.
He draweth also the mighty by his power, and when he riseth vp, none is sure of life.
23 When he has fallen sick, let him not hope to recover: but let him perish by disease.
Though men giue him assurance to be in safetie, yet his eyes are vpon their wayes.
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.
They are exalted for a litle, but they are gone, and are brought lowe as all others: they are destroyed, and cut off as the toppe of an eare of corne.
25 But if not, who is he that says I speak falsely, and will make my words of no account?
But if it be not so, where is he? or who wil proue me a lyer, and make my words of no value?
