Job 24
1 Why are not times treasured up by the Almighty? And why do not they who know him see his days?
Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? And why do not they that know Him see His days?
2 They remove landmarks; They take away flocks by violence, and pasture them.
There are that remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed them.
3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless, And take the widow's ox for a pledge.
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge.
4 They push the needy from the way; All the poor of the land are forced to hide themselves.
They turn the needy out of the way; the poor of the earth hide themselves together.
5 Behold, like wild asses of the desert, they go forth to their work; They search for prey; The wilderness supplieth them food for their children.
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 fields they reap the harvest, And gather the vintage of the oppressor.
They cut his provender in the field; and they despoil the vineyard of the wicked.
7 They lodge naked, without clothing, And without covering from the cold.
They lie all night naked without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.
8 They are drenched with the mountain showers, And embrace the rock for want of shelter.
They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
9 The fatherless are torn from the breast, And the garment of the needy is taken for a pledge.
There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor;
10 They go naked, without clothing, And carry the sheaf hungry.
So that they go about naked without clothing, and being hungry they carry the sheaves;
11 They make oil within their walls, And tread the wine-vat, yet suffer thirst.
They make oil within the rows of these men; they tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.
12 From anguish the dying groan, And the wounded cry aloud; And God regardeth not their prayer!
From out of the populous city men groan, and the soul of the wounded crieth out; yet God imputeth it not for unseemliness.
13 Others hate the light; They know not its ways, And abide not 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 light ariseth the murderer; He killeth the poor and needy; In the night he is as a thief.
The murderer riseth with the light, to kill the poor and needy; and in the night he is as a thief.
15 The eye of the adulterer watcheth for the twilight; He saith, “No eye will see me,” And putteth a mask upon 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 In the dark they break into houses; In the daytime they shut themselves up; They are strangers to the light.
In the dark they dig through houses; they shut themselves up in the day-time; they know not the light.
17 The morning is to them the very shadow of death; 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 Light are they on the face of the waters; They have an accursed portion in the earth; They come not near 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.
Drought and heat consume the snow waters; so doth the nether-world those that have sinned. (Sheol h7585)
20 His own mother forgetteth him; The worm feedeth sweetly on him; He is no more remembered, And iniquity is broken like a tree.
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 oppresseth the barren, that hath not borne, And doeth not good to the widow.
He devoureth the barren that beareth not; and doeth not good to the widow.
22 He taketh away the mighty by his power; He riseth up, and 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 God giveth them security, so that they are confident; 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 a little while they are gone! They are brought low, and die, like all others; And like the topmost ears 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 If it be not so, who will confute me, And show my discourse to be worthless?
And if it be not so now, who will prove me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?
