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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Job 24

¹Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? And why do not they that know him see his days?

²There are that remove the landmarks; They violently take away flocks, and feed them.

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 all hide themselves.

⁵Behold, as wild asses in the desert They go forth to their work, seeking diligently for food; The wildernessyieldeththem bread for their children.

⁶They cut their provender in the field; And they glean the vintage of the wicked.

⁷They lie all night naked without clothing, And have no covering in the cold.

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

⁹There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, And take a pledge of the poor;

¹⁰So thatthey go about naked without clothing, And being hungry they carry the sheaves.

¹¹They make oil within the walls of these men; They treadtheirwinepresses, and suffer thirst.

¹²From out of the populous city men groan, And the soul of the wounded crieth out: Yet God regardeth not the folly.

¹³These are of them that rebel against the light; They know not the ways thereof, Nor abide in the paths thereof.

¹⁴The murderer riseth with the light; He killeth the poor and needy; And in the night he is as a thief.

¹⁵The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, Saying, No eye shall see me: And he disguiseth his face.

¹⁶In the dark they dig through houses: They shut themselves up in the day-time; They know not the light.

¹⁷For the morning is to all of them as thick darkness; For they know the terrors of the thick darkness.

¹⁸Swiftly theypass awayupon the face of the waters; Their portion is cursed in the earth: They turn not into the way of the vineyards.

¹⁹Drought and heat consume the snow waters: So dothSheolthose thathave sinned.

²⁰The womb shall forget him; The worm shall feed sweetly on him; He shall be no more remembered; And unrighteousness shall be broken as a tree.

²¹He devoureth the barren that beareth not, And doeth not good to the widow.

²²YetGod preserveth the mighty by his power: He riseth up that hath no assurance of life.

²³God giveth them to be in security, and they rest thereon; And his eyes are upon their ways.

²⁴They are exalted; yet a little while, and they are gone; Yea, they are brought low, they are taken out of the way as all others, And are cut off as the tops of the ears of grain.

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