Job 24
1 But why have the seasons been hidden from the Lord,
Why are not times [of punishment] treasured up by the Almighty, and why do his adorers not see his days [of retribution]?
2 while the ungodly have passed over the bound, carrying off the flock with the shepherd?
[The wicked] remove landmarks: they rob flocks, and feed them.
3 They have led away, the ass of the fatherless, and taken the widow's ox for a pledge.
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take in pledge the widow's ox.
4 They have turned aside the weak from the right way: and the meek of the earth have hidden themselves together.
They chase the needy out of the highway: altogether hide themselves the poor of the earth.
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, as wild asses in the wilderness go they forth to their work, rising betimes after [their] prey: the desert yieldeth food for them and for their young men.
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.
In the field they reap their food; and in the vineyard of the wicked they gather the fruit.
7 They have caused many naked to sleep without clothes, and they have taken away the covering of their body.
They cause [the poor] to spend the night naked, without clothing and without any covering in the cold.
8 They are wet with the drops of the mountains: they have embraced the rock, because they had no shelter.
Through the sweeping rain of the mountains are they made wet, and for want of a shelter do they embrace the rock.
9 They have snatched the fatherless from the breast, and have afflicted the outcast.
The others pluck from the breast the fatherless, and the garment of the poor they take in pledge.
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 from the hungry they take away the sheaf:
11 They have unrighteously laid wait in narrow places, and have not known the righteous way.
Within their walls do they make oil, they tread their wine-presses, and 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.
Out of a populous city is groaning heard, and the soul of the deadly wounded crieth out: yet God regardeth it not as an offence.
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?
Yon men are of those that rebel against the light: they know not its ways, nor abide in its paths.
14 But having known their works, he delivered them into darkness: and in the night one will be as a thief:
With the earliest light riseth the murderer, he slayeth the poor and needy, and in the night he becometh like the thief.
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 eye of the adulterer watcheth for the twilight, saying, No eye will see me; and placeth a covering on his face.
16 In darkness he digs through houses: by day they conceal themselves securely: they know not the light.
They break into houses in the dark, in the daytime they lock themselves in: they know 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.
For to all of these alike is the morning as the shadow of death; for they are familiar with the terrors of the shadow 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.
Swift are such men [to flee] on the face of the water; accursed is their field on the land; none of them turneth himself to the way, of the vineyards.
19 [Let them be] withered upon the earth; for they have plundered the sheaves of the fatherless. (Sheol h7585)
Drought and heat speedily consume the snow-waters: so doth the grave those who have sinned. (Sheol h7585)
20 Then is his sin brought to remembrance, and he vanishes like a vapor of dew: but let what he has done be recompensed to him, and let every unrighteous one be crushed like rotten wood.
The mother that bore such a one will forget him; the worm will feed sweetly on him; he will be no more remembered; and like a tree will wickedness be broken.
21 For he has not treated the barren woman well, and has had no pity on a feeble woman.
He ill-treateth the barren that heareth not; and to the widow he acteth not well.
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 he also draweth down the mighty with his power: he riseth up, no one is sure of life.
23 When he has fallen sick, let him not hope to recover: but let him perish by disease.
To such [God] granteth to be in safety, that he may find support; and His eyes are upon their 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.
They are exalted; in but a little while they are no more; and they are brought down low: like all others are they gathered in, and like the top of the ear of corn are they cut off.
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, who will prove me a liar, and render nought my word?
