Job 24
1 Ab Omnipotente non sunt abscondita tempora: qui autem noverunt eum, ignorant dies illius.
Why are not times [of punishment] treasured up by the Almighty, and why do his adorers not see his days [of retribution]?
2 Alii terminos transtulerunt, diripuerunt greges, et paverunt eos.
[The wicked] remove landmarks: they rob flocks, and feed them.
3 Asinum pupillorum abegerunt, et abstulerunt pro pignore bovem viduae.
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take in pledge the widow's ox.
4 Subverterunt pauperum viam, et oppresserunt pariter mansuetos terrae.
They chase the needy out of the highway: altogether hide themselves the poor of the earth.
5 Alii quasi onagri in deserto egrediuntur ad opus suum: vigilantes ad praedam, praeparant panem liberis.
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.
6 Agrum non suum demetunt: et vineam eius, quem vi oppresserint, vindemiant.
In the field they reap their food; and in the vineyard of the wicked they gather the fruit.
7 Nudos dimittunt homines, indumenta tollentes, quibus non est operimentum in frigore:
They cause [the poor] to spend the night naked, without clothing and without any covering in the cold.
8 Quos imbres montium rigant: et non habentes velamen, amplexantur lapides.
Through the sweeping rain of the mountains are they made wet, and for want of a shelter do they embrace the rock.
9 Vim fecerunt depraedantes pupillos, et vulgum pauperem spoliaverunt.
The others pluck from the breast the fatherless, and the garment of the poor they take in pledge.
10 Nudis et incedentibus absque vestitu, et esurientibus tulerunt spicas.
They cause him to go naked without clothing, and from the hungry they take away the sheaf:
11 Inter acervos eorum meridiati sunt, qui calcatis torcularibus sitiunt.
Within their walls do they make oil, they tread their wine-presses, and suffer thirst.
12 De civitatibus fecerunt viros gemere, et anima vulneratorum clamavit, et Deus inultum abire non patitur.
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.
13 Ipsi fuerunt rebelles lumini, nescierunt vias eius, nec reversi sunt per semitas eius.
Yon men are of those that rebel against the light: they know not its ways, nor abide in its paths.
14 Mane primo consurgit homicida, interficit egenum et pauperem: per noctem vero erit quasi fur.
With the earliest light riseth the murderer, he slayeth the poor and needy, and in the night he becometh like the thief.
15 Oculus adulteri observat caliginem, dicens: Non me videbit oculus: et operiet vultum suum.
And the eye of the adulterer watcheth for the twilight, saying, No eye will see me; and placeth a covering on his face.
16 Perfodit in tenebris domos, sicut in die condixerant sibi, et ignoraverunt lucem.
They break into houses in the dark, in the daytime they lock themselves in: they know not the light.
17 Si subito apparuerit aurora, arbitrantur umbram mortis: et sic in tenebris quasi in luce ambulant.
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.
18 Levis est super faciem aquae: maledicta sit pars eius in terra, nec ambulet per viam vinearum.
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.
Drought and heat speedily consume the snow-waters: so doth the grave those who have sinned. (Sheol h7585)
20 Obliviscatur eius misericordia: dulcedo illius vermes: non sit in recordatione, sed conteratur quasi lignum infructuosum.
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.
21 Pavit enim sterilem, et quae non parit, et viduae bene non fecit.
He ill-treateth the barren that heareth not; and to the widow he acteth not well.
22 Detraxit fortes in fortitudine sua: et cum steterit, non credet vitae suae.
But he also draweth down the mighty with his power: he riseth up, no one is sure of life.
23 Dedit ei Deus locum poenitentiae, et ille abutitur eo in superbiam: oculi autem eius sunt in viis illius.
To such [God] granteth to be in safety, that he may find support; and 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 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.
25 Quod si non est ita, quis me potest arguere esse mentitum, et ponere ante Deum verba mea?
But if it be not so, who will prove me a liar, and render nought my word?
