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]?
なにゆえ、全能者はさばきの時を定めておかれないのか。なにゆえ、彼を知る者がその日を見ないのか。
2 [The wicked] remove landmarks: they rob flocks, and feed them.
世には地境を移す者、群れを奪ってそれを飼う者、
3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take in pledge the widow's ox.
みなしごのろばを追いやる者、やもめの牛を質に取る者、
4 They chase the needy out of the highway: altogether hide themselves the poor of the earth.
貧しい者を道から押しのける者がある。世の弱い者は皆彼らをさけて身をかくす。
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.
見よ、彼らは荒野におる野ろばのように出て働き、野で獲物を求めて、その子らの食物とする。
6 In the field they reap their food; and in the vineyard of the wicked they gather the fruit.
彼らは畑でそのまぐさを刈り、また悪人のぶどう畑で拾い集める。
7 They cause [the poor] to spend the night naked, without clothing and without any covering in the cold.
彼らは着る物がなく、裸で夜を過ごし、寒さに身をおおうべき物もない。
8 Through the sweeping rain of the mountains are they made wet, and for want of a shelter do they embrace the rock.
彼らは山の雨にぬれ、しのぎ場もなく岩にすがる。
9 The others pluck from the breast the fatherless, and the garment of the poor they take in pledge.
（みなしごをその母のふところから奪い、貧しい者の幼な子を質にとる者がある。）
10 They cause him to go naked without clothing, and from the hungry they take away the sheaf:
彼らは着る物がなく、裸で歩き、飢えつつ麦束を運び、
11 Within their walls do they make oil, they tread their wine-presses, and suffer thirst.
悪人のオリブ並み木の中で油をしぼり、酒ぶねを踏んでも、かわきを覚える。
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.
町の中から死のうめきが起り、傷ついた者の魂が助けを呼び求める。しかし神は彼らの祈を顧みられない。
13 Yon men are of those that rebel against the light: they know not its ways, nor abide in its paths.
光にそむく者たちがある。彼らは光の道を知らず、光の道にとどまらない。
14 With the earliest light riseth the murderer, he slayeth the poor and needy, and in the night he becometh like the thief.
人を殺す者は暗いうちに起き出て弱い者と貧しい者を殺し、夜は盗びととなる。
15 And the eye of the adulterer watcheth for the twilight, saying, No eye will see me; and placeth a covering on his face.
姦淫する者の目はたそがれを待って、『だれもわたしを見ていないだろう』と言い、顔におおう物を当てる。
16 They break into houses in the dark, in the daytime they lock themselves in: they know not the light.
彼らは暗やみで家をうがち、昼は閉じこもって光を知らない。
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.
彼らには暗黒は朝である。彼らは暗黒の恐れを友とするからだ。
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.
あなたがたは言う、『彼らは水のおもてにすみやかに流れ去り、その受ける分は地でのろわれ、酒ぶねを踏む者はだれも彼らのぶどう畑の道に行かない。
19 Drought and heat speedily consume the snow-waters: so doth the grave those who have sinned. (Sheol h7585)
ひでりと熱さは雪水を奪い去る、陰府が罪を犯した者に対するも、これと同様だ。 (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.
町の広場は彼らを忘れ、彼らの名は覚えられることなく、不義は木の折られるように折られる』と。
21 He ill-treateth the barren that heareth not; and to the widow he acteth not well.
彼らは子を産まぬうまずめをくらい、やもめをあわれむことをしない。
22 But he also draweth down the mighty with his power: he riseth up, no one is sure of life.
しかし神はその力をもって、強い人々を生きながらえさせられる。彼らは生きる望みのない時にも起きあがる。
23 To such [God] granteth to be in safety, that he may find support; and His eyes are upon their ways.
神が彼らに安全を与えられるので、彼らは安らかである。神の目は彼らの道の上にある。
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.
彼らはしばし高められて、いなくなり、ぜにあおいのように枯れて消えうせ、麦の穂先のように切り取られる。
25 But if it be not so, who will prove me a liar, and render nought my word?
もし、そうでないなら、だれがわたしにその偽りを証明し、わが言葉のむなしいことを示しうるだろうか」。
