< 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]?
Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? And why do not they that know Him see His days?
2 [The wicked] remove landmarks: they rob flocks, and feed them.
There are that remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed them.
3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take in pledge the widow's ox.
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take 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 turn the needy out of the way; the poor of the earth hide themselves together.
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.
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 In the field they reap their food; and in the vineyard of the wicked they gather the fruit.
They cut his provender in the field; and they despoil the vineyard of the wicked.
7 They cause [the poor] to spend the night naked, without clothing and without any covering in the cold.
They lie all night naked without clothing, and 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.
They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
9 The others pluck from the breast the fatherless, and the garment of the poor they take in pledge.
There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor;
10 They cause him to go naked without clothing, and from the hungry they take away the sheaf:
So that they go about naked without clothing, and being hungry they carry the sheaves;
11 Within their walls do they make oil, they tread their wine-presses, and suffer thirst.
They make oil within the rows of these men; they tread their winepresses, and 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.
From out of the populous city men groan, and the soul of the wounded crieth out; yet God imputeth it not for unseemliness.
13 Yon men are of those that rebel against the light: they know not its ways, nor abide in its paths.
These are of them that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
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 with the light, to kill the poor and needy; and in the night he is 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 also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying: 'No eye shall see me'; and he putteth a covering on his face.
16 They break into houses in the dark, in the daytime they lock themselves in: they know not the light.
In the dark they dig through houses; they shut themselves up in the day-time; they know not 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.
For the shadow of death is to all of them as the morning; for they know the terrors of the shadow of death.
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 swift upon the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth; he turneth not by the way of the vineyards.
19 Drought and heat speedily consume the snow-waters: so doth the grave those who have sinned. (Sheol )
Drought and heat consume the snow waters; so doth the nether-world those that have sinned. (Sheol )
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.
The womb forgetteth him; the worm feedeth sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and unrighteousness is broken as a tree.
21 He ill-treateth the barren that heareth not; and to the widow he acteth not well.
He devoureth the barren that beareth not; and doeth not good to the widow.
22 But he also draweth down the mighty with his power: he riseth up, no one is sure of life.
He draweth away the mighty also by his power; he riseth up, and he trusteth not his own life.
23 To such [God] granteth to be in safety, that he may find support; and His eyes are upon their ways.
Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth, yet His eyes are upon their 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 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 it be not so, who will prove me a liar, and render nought my word?
And if it be not so now, who will prove me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?