איוב 24

1 מדוע--משדי לא-נצפנו עתים וידעו לא-חזו ימיו

Times are not hid from the Almighty: but they that know him, know not his days.

2 גבלות ישיגו עדר גזלו וירעו

Some have removed landmarks, have taken away flocks by force, and fed them.

3 חמור יתומים ינהגו יחבלו שור אלמנה

They have driven away the ass of the fatherless, and have taken away the widow’s ox for a pledge.

4 יטו אבינים מדרך יחד חבאו עניי-ארץ

They have overturned the way of the poor, and have oppressed together the meek of the earth.

5 הן פראים במדבר-- יצאו בפעלם משחרי לטרף ערבה לו לחם לנערים

Others like wild asses in the desert go forth to their work: by watching for a prey they get bread for their children.

6 בשדה בלילו יקצירו (יקצורו) וכרם רשע ילקשו

They reap the field that is not their own, and gather the vintage of his vineyard whom by violence they have oppressed.

7 ערום ילינו מבלי לבוש ואין כסות בקרה

They send men away naked, taking away their clothes who have no covering in the cold:

8 מזרם הרים ירטבו ומבלי מחסה חבקו-צור

Who are wet, with the showers of the mountains, and having no covering embrace the stones.

9 יגזלו משד יתום ועל-עני יחבלו

They have violently robbed the fatherless, and stripped the poor common people.

10 ערום הלכו בלי לבוש ורעבים נשאו עמר

From the naked and them that go without clothing, and from the hungry they have taken away the ears of corn.

11 בין-שורתם יצהירו יקבים דרכו ויצמאו

They have taken their rest at noon among the stores of them, who after having trodden the winepresses suffer thirst.

12 מעיר מתים ינאקו-- ונפש-חללים תשוע ואלוה לא-ישים תפלה

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 המה היו--במרדי-אור לא-הכירו דרכיו ולא ישבו בנתיבתיו

They have been rebellious to the light, they have not known his ways, neither have they returned by his paths.

14 לאור יקום רוצח--יקטל-עני ואביון ובלילה יהי כגנב

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 ועין נאף שמרה נשף לאמר-- לא-תשורני עין וסתר פנים ישים

The eye of the adulterer observeth darkness, saying: No eye shall see me: and he will cover his face.

16 חתר בחשך בתים יומם חתמו-למו לא-ידעו אור

He diggeth through houses in the dark, as in the day they had appointed for themselves, and they have not known the light.

17 כי יחדו בקר למו צלמות כי-יכיר בלהות צלמות

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 קל-הוא על-פני-מים-- תקלל חלקתם בארץ לא-יפנה דרך כרמים

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 ציה גם-חם יגזלו מימי-שלג שאול חטאו (Sheol h7585)

Let him pass from the snow waters to excessive heat, and his sin even to hell. (Sheol h7585)

20 ישכחהו רחם מתקו רמה-- עוד לא-יזכר ותשבר כעץ עולה

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 רעה עקרה לא תלד ואלמנה לא ייטיב

For he hath fed the barren that beareth not, and to the widow he hath done no good.

22 ומשך אבירים בכחו יקום ולא-יאמין בחיין

He hath pulled down the strong by his might: and when he standeth up, he shall not trust to his life.

23 יתן-לו לבטח וישען ועיניהו על-דרכיהם

God hath given him place for penance, and he abuseth it unto pride: but his eyes are upon his ways.

24 רומו מעט ואיננו והמכו ככל יקפצון וכראש שבלת ימלו

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 ואם-לא אפו מי יכזיבני וישם לאל מלתי

And if it be not so, who can convince me that I have lied, and set my words before God?