Job 24
1 Why are not times [of punishment] treasured up by the Almighty, and why do his adorers not see his days [of retribution]?
Times are not hid from the Almighty: but they that know him, know not his days.
2 [The wicked] remove landmarks: they rob flocks, and feed them.
Some have removed landmarks, have taken away flocks by force, and fed them.
3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take in pledge the widow's ox.
They have driven away the ass of the fatherless, and have taken away the widow’s ox for a pledge.
4 They chase the needy out of the highway: altogether hide themselves the poor of the earth.
They have overturned the way of the poor, and have oppressed together the meek of the earth.
5 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.
Others like wild asses in the desert go forth to their work: by watching for a prey they get bread for their children.
6 In the field they reap their food; and in the vineyard of the wicked they gather the fruit.
They reap the field that is not their own, and gather the vintage of his vineyard whom by violence they have oppressed.
7 They cause [the poor] to spend the night naked, without clothing and without any covering in the cold.
They send men away naked, taking away their clothes who have no covering in the cold:
8 Through the sweeping rain of the mountains are they made wet, and for want of a shelter do they embrace the rock.
Who are wet, with the showers of the mountains, and having no covering embrace the stones.
9 The others pluck from the breast the fatherless, and the garment of the poor they take in pledge.
They have violently robbed the fatherless, and stripped the poor common people.
10 They cause him to go naked without clothing, and from the hungry they take away the sheaf:
From the naked and them that go without clothing, and from the hungry they have taken away the ears of corn.
11 Within their walls do they make oil, they tread their wine-presses, and suffer thirst.
They have taken their rest at noon among the stores of them, who after having trodden the winepresses suffer thirst.
12 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.
Out of the cities they have made men to groan, and the soul of the wounded hath cried out, and God doth not suffer it to pass unrevenged.
13 Yon men are of those that rebel against the light: they know not its ways, nor abide in its paths.
They have been rebellious to the light, they have not known his ways, neither have they returned by his paths.
14 With the earliest light riseth the murderer, he slayeth the poor and needy, and in the night he becometh like the thief.
The murderer riseth at the very break of day, he killeth the needy, and the poor man: but in the night he will be as a thief.
15 And the eye of the adulterer watcheth for the twilight, saying, No eye will see me; and placeth a covering on his face.
The eye of the adulterer observeth darkness, saying: No eye shall see me: and he will cover his face.
16 They break into houses in the dark, in the daytime they lock themselves in: they know not the light.
He diggeth through houses in the dark, as in the day they had appointed for themselves, and they have not known the light.
17 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.
If the morning suddenly appear, it is to them the shadow of death: and they walk in darkness as if it were in light.
18 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.
He is light upon the face of the water: cursed be his portion on the earth, let him not walk by the way of the vineyards.
19 Drought and heat speedily consume the snow-waters: so doth the grave those who have sinned. (Sheol h7585)
Let him pass from the snow waters to excessive heat, and his sin even to hell. (Sheol h7585)
20 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.
Let mercy forget him: may worms be his sweetness: let him be remembered no more, but be broken in pieces as an unfruitful tree.
21 He ill-treateth the barren that heareth not; and to the widow he acteth not well.
For he hath fed the barren that beareth not, and to the widow he hath done no good.
22 But he also draweth down the mighty with his power: he riseth up, no one is sure of life.
He hath pulled down the strong by his might: and when he standeth up, he shall not trust to his life.
23 To such [God] granteth to be in safety, that he may find support; and His eyes are upon their ways.
God hath given him place for penance, and he abuseth it unto pride: but his eyes are upon his ways.
24 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.
They are lifted up for a little while and shall not stand, and shall be brought down as all things, and shall be taken away, and as the tops of the ears of corn they shall be broken.
25 But if it be not so, who will prove me a liar, and render nought my word?
And if it be not so, who can convince me that I have lied, and set my words before God?
