Job 24
1 Ab Omnipotente non sunt abscondita tempora: qui autem noverunt eum, ignorant dies illius.
Why are not times treasured up by the Almighty? And why do not they who know him see his days?
2 Alii terminos transtulerunt; diripuerunt greges, et paverunt eos.
They remove landmarks; They take away flocks by violence, and pasture them.
3 Asinum pupillorum abegerunt, et abstulerunt pro pignore bovem viduæ.
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, And take the widow's ox for a pledge.
4 Subverterunt pauperum viam, et oppresserunt pariter mansuetos terræ.
They push the needy from the way; All the poor of the land are forced to hide themselves.
5 Alii quasi onagri in deserto egrediuntur ad opus suum: vigilantes ad prædam, præparant panem liberis.
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.
6 Agrum non suum demetunt, et vineam ejus, quem vi oppresserint, vindemiant.
In the fields they reap the harvest, And gather the vintage of the oppressor.
7 Nudos dimittunt homines, indumenta tollentes, quibus non est operimentum in frigore:
They lodge naked, without clothing, And without covering from the cold.
8 quos imbres montium rigant, et non habentes velamen, amplexantur lapides.
They are drenched with the mountain showers, And embrace the rock for want of shelter.
9 Vim fecerunt deprædantes pupillos, et vulgum pauperem spoliaverunt.
The fatherless are torn from the breast, And the garment of the needy is taken for a pledge.
10 Nudis et incedentibus absque vestitu, et esurientibus tulerunt spicas.
They go naked, without clothing, And carry the sheaf hungry.
11 Inter acervos eorum meridiati sunt, qui calcatis torcularibus sitiunt.
They make oil within their walls, And tread the wine-vat, yet suffer thirst.
12 De civitatibus fecerunt viros gemere, et anima vulneratorum clamavit: et Deus inultum abire non patitur.
From anguish the dying groan, And the wounded cry aloud; And God regardeth not their prayer!
13 Ipsi fuerunt rebelles lumini: nescierunt vias ejus, nec reversi sunt per semitas ejus.
Others hate the light; They know not its ways, And abide not in its paths.
14 Mane primo consurgit homicida; interficit egenum et pauperem: per noctem vero erit quasi fur.
With the light ariseth the murderer; He killeth the poor and needy; In the night he is as a thief.
15 Oculus adulteri observat caliginem, dicens: Non me videbit oculus: et operiet vultum suum.
The eye of the adulterer watcheth for the twilight; He saith, “No eye will see me,” And putteth a mask upon his face.
16 Perfodit in tenebris domos, sicut in die condixerant sibi, et ignoraverunt lucem.
In the dark they break into houses; In the daytime they shut themselves up; They are strangers to the light.
17 Si subito apparuerit aurora, arbitrantur umbram mortis: et sic in tenebris quasi in luce ambulant.
The morning is to them the very shadow of death; They are familiar with the terrors of the shadow of death.
18 Levis est super faciem aquæ: maledicta sit pars ejus in terra, nec ambulet per viam vinearum.
Light are they on the face of the waters; They have an accursed portion in the earth; They come not near the vineyards.
As drought and heat consume the snow waters, So doth the grave the wicked. (Sheol h7585)
20 Obliviscatur ejus misericordia; dulcedo illius vermes: non sit in recordatione, sed conteratur quasi lignum infructuosum.
His own mother forgetteth him; The worm feedeth sweetly on him; He is no more remembered, And iniquity is broken like a tree.
21 Pavit enim sterilem quæ non parit, et viduæ bene non fecit.
He oppresseth the barren, that hath not borne, And doeth not good to the widow.
22 Detraxit fortes in fortitudine sua, et cum steterit, non credet vitæ suæ.
He taketh away the mighty by his power; He riseth up, and no one is sure of life.
23 Dedit ei Deus locum pœnitentiæ, et ille abutitur eo in superbiam: oculi autem ejus sunt in viis illius.
God giveth them security, so that they are confident; His eyes are upon their ways.
24 Elevati sunt ad modicum, et non subsistent: et humiliabuntur sicut omnia, et auferentur, et sicut summitates spicarum conterentur.
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.
25 Quod si non est ita, quis me potest arguere esse mentitum, et ponere ante Deum verba mea?
If it be not so, who will confute me, And show my discourse to be worthless?
