Job 24
1 The times are not hidden from the Almighty; even those who know him, do not know his days.
Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? And why do not they that know Him see His days?
2 Some have crossed the boundaries, plundered the flocks, and given them pasture.
There are that remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed them.
3 They have driven away the donkey of orphans, and have taken the cow from the widow as collateral.
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge.
4 They have undermined the way of the poor, and have pressed together the meek of the earth.
They turn the needy out of the way; the poor of the earth hide themselves together.
5 Others, like wild asses in the desert, go forth to their work; by watching for prey, they obtain bread for their children.
Behold, as wild asses in the wilderness they go forth to their work, seeking diligently for food; the desert yieldeth them bread for their children.
6 They reap a field that is not their own, and they harvest a vineyard that they have taken by force.
They cut his provender in the field; and they despoil the vineyard of the wicked.
7 They send men away naked, having taken the clothing of those who have no covering in the cold;
They lie all night naked without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.
8 these are wet with the mountain rain, and, having no covering, they embrace the rocks.
They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
9 They have used violence to deprive orphans, and they have robbed the poor common people.
There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor;
10 From the naked and those who do not have enough clothing, and from the hungry, they have taken away sheaves of grain.
So that they go about naked without clothing, and being hungry they carry the sheaves;
11 They take their midday rest among the stockpiles of those who, though they have trodden the winepresses, suffer thirst.
They make oil within the rows of these men; they tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.
12 In the cities, they caused the men to groan and the spirit of the wounded to cry out, and so God does not allow this to go unpunished.
From out of the populous city men groan, and the soul of the wounded crieth out; yet God imputeth it not for unseemliness.
13 They have been rebellious against the light; they have not known his ways, nor have they returned by his paths.
These are of them that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
14 The killer of men rises at first light; he executes the destitute and the poor, but, in truth, he is like a thief in the night.
The murderer riseth with the light, to kill the poor and needy; and in the night he is as a thief.
15 The eye of the adulterer waits for darkness, saying, “No eye will see me,” and he covers his face.
The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying: 'No eye shall see me'; and he putteth a covering on his face.
16 He passes through houses in the nighttime, just as they had agreed among themselves in the daytime; and they are ignorant of the light.
In the dark they dig through houses; they shut themselves up in the day-time; they know not the light.
17 If sunrise should suddenly appear, it is treated by them like the shadow of death; and they walk in darkness, as if in light.
For the shadow of death is to all of them as the morning; for they know the terrors of the shadow of death.
18 He is nimble on the surface of water. His place on land is to be accursed. May he not walk by way of the vineyards.
He is swift upon the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth; he turneth not by the way of the vineyards.
19 May he cross from the snowy waters to excessive heat, and his sin, all the way to hell. (Sheol h7585)
Drought and heat consume the snow waters; so doth the nether-world those that have sinned. (Sheol h7585)
20 Let mercy forget him. His charm is worms. Let him not be remembered, but instead be broken like an unfruitful tree.
The womb forgetteth him; the worm feedeth sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and unrighteousness is broken as a tree.
21 For he has fed on the barren, who does not bear fruit, and he has not done good to the widow.
He devoureth the barren that beareth not; and doeth not good to the widow.
22 He has pulled down the strong by his strength, and, when he stands up, he will not have trust in his life.
He draweth away the mighty also by his power; he riseth up, and he trusteth not his own life.
23 God has given him a place for repentance, and he abuses it with arrogance, but his eyes are upon his ways.
Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth, yet His eyes are upon their ways.
24 They are lifted up for a little while, but they will not continue, and they will be brought low, just like all things, and they will be taken away, and, like the tops of the ears of grain, they will be crushed.
They are exalted for a little while, and they are gone; yea, they are brought low, they are gathered in as all others, and wither as the tops of the ears of corn.
25 But, if this is not so, who is able to prove to me that I have lied and to place my words before God?
And if it be not so now, who will prove me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?
