Job 24

1Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?

2Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof.footnote a

3They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.

4They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.

5Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children.

6They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked.footnote bfootnote c

7They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.

8They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.

9They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.

10They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;

11Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.

12Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.

13They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.

14The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.

15The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face.footnote d

16In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.

17For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.

18He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.

19Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned.footnote e

20The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree.

21He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.

22He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.footnote f

23Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways.

24They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.footnote gfootnote h

25And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?

Job: Judgment for the Wicked

1“Why does the Almighty not reserve times for judgment?Why may those who know Him never see His days? 2Men move boundary stones;they pasture stolen flocks. 3They drive away the donkey of the fatherlessand take the widow’s ox in pledge. 4They push the needy off the roadand force all the poor of the land into hiding.

5Indeed, like wild donkeys in the desert,the poor go to work foraging for food;the wasteland is food for their children. 6They gather fodder in the fieldsand glean the vineyards of the wicked. 7Without clothing, they spend the night naked;they have no covering against the cold. 8Drenched by mountain rains,they huddle against the rocks for want of shelter.

9The fatherless infant is snatched from the breast;the nursing child of the poor is seized for a debt. 10Without clothing, they wander about naked.They carry the sheaves, but still go hungry. 11They crush olives within their walls;they tread the winepresses, but go thirsty. 12From the city, men groan,and the souls of the wounded cry out,yet God charges no one with wrongdoing.

13Then there are those who rebel against the light,not knowing its ways or staying on its paths. 14When daylight is gone, the murderer risesto kill the poor and needy;in the night he is like a thief. 15The eye of the adulterer watches for twilight.Thinking, ‘No eye will see me,’ he covers his face. 16In the dark they dig through houses;by day they shut themselves in,never to experience the light. 17For to them, deep darkness is their morning;surely they are friends with the terrors of darkness!

18They are but foam on the surface of the water;their portion of the land is cursed,so that no one turns toward their vineyards. 19As drought and heat consume the melting snow,so Sheol steals those who have sinned. 20The womb forgets them;the worm feeds on them;they are remembered no more.So injustice is broken like a tree. 21They prey on the barren and childless,and show no kindness to the widow.

22Yet by His power, God drags away the mighty;though rising up, they have no assurance of life. 23He gives them a sense of security,but His eyes are on their ways. 24They are exalted for a moment,then they are gone;they are brought low and gathered up like all others;they are cut off like heads of grain. 25If this is not so, then who can prove me a liarand reduce my words to nothing?”