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]?
Ab Omnipotente non sunt abscondita tempora: qui autem noverunt eum, ignorant dies illius.
2 [The wicked] remove landmarks: they rob flocks, and feed them.
Alii terminos transtulerunt, diripuerunt greges, et paverunt eos.
3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take in pledge the widow's ox.
Asinum pupillorum abegerunt, et abstulerunt pro pignore bovem viduae.
4 They chase the needy out of the highway: altogether hide themselves the poor of the earth.
Subverterunt pauperum viam, et oppresserunt pariter mansuetos terrae.
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.
Alii quasi onagri in deserto egrediuntur ad opus suum: vigilantes ad praedam, praeparant panem liberis.
6 In the field they reap their food; and in the vineyard of the wicked they gather the fruit.
Agrum non suum demetunt: et vineam eius, quem vi oppresserint, vindemiant.
7 They cause [the poor] to spend the night naked, without clothing and without any covering in the cold.
Nudos dimittunt homines, indumenta tollentes, quibus non est operimentum in frigore:
8 Through the sweeping rain of the mountains are they made wet, and for want of a shelter do they embrace the rock.
Quos imbres montium rigant: et non habentes velamen, amplexantur lapides.
9 The others pluck from the breast the fatherless, and the garment of the poor they take in pledge.
Vim fecerunt depraedantes pupillos, et vulgum pauperem spoliaverunt.
10 They cause him to go naked without clothing, and from the hungry they take away the sheaf:
Nudis et incedentibus absque vestitu, et esurientibus tulerunt spicas.
11 Within their walls do they make oil, they tread their wine-presses, and suffer thirst.
Inter acervos eorum meridiati sunt, qui calcatis torcularibus sitiunt.
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.
De civitatibus fecerunt viros gemere, et anima vulneratorum clamavit, et Deus inultum abire non patitur.
13 Yon men are of those that rebel against the light: they know not its ways, nor abide in its paths.
Ipsi fuerunt rebelles lumini, nescierunt vias eius, nec reversi sunt per semitas eius.
14 With the earliest light riseth the murderer, he slayeth the poor and needy, and in the night he becometh like the thief.
Mane primo consurgit homicida, interficit egenum et pauperem: per noctem vero erit quasi fur.
15 And the eye of the adulterer watcheth for the twilight, saying, No eye will see me; and placeth a covering on his face.
Oculus adulteri observat caliginem, dicens: Non me videbit oculus: et operiet vultum suum.
16 They break into houses in the dark, in the daytime they lock themselves in: they know not the light.
Perfodit in tenebris domos, sicut in die condixerant sibi, et ignoraverunt lucem.
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.
Si subito apparuerit aurora, arbitrantur umbram mortis: et sic in tenebris quasi in luce ambulant.
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.
Levis est super faciem aquae: maledicta sit pars eius in terra, nec ambulet per viam vinearum.
19 Drought and heat speedily consume the snow-waters: so doth the grave those who have sinned. (Sheol h7585)
Ad nimium calorem transeat ab aquis nivium, et usque ad inferos peccatum illius. (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.
Obliviscatur eius misericordia: dulcedo illius vermes: non sit in recordatione, sed conteratur quasi lignum infructuosum.
21 He ill-treateth the barren that heareth not; and to the widow he acteth not well.
Pavit enim sterilem, et quae non parit, et viduae bene non fecit.
22 But he also draweth down the mighty with his power: he riseth up, no one is sure of life.
Detraxit fortes in fortitudine sua: et cum steterit, non credet vitae suae.
23 To such [God] granteth to be in safety, that he may find support; and His eyes are upon their ways.
Dedit ei Deus locum poenitentiae, et ille abutitur eo in superbiam: oculi autem eius sunt in viis illius.
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.
Elevati sunt ad modicum, et non subsistent, et humiliabuntur sicut omnia, et auferentur, et sicut summitates spicarum conterentur.
25 But if it be not so, who will prove me a liar, and render nought my word?
Quod si non est ita, quis me potest arguere esse mentitum, et ponere ante Deum verba mea?
