Chapter 24 - Job continues



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

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


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


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


5 Behold, [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.


6 They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage (of the wicked).


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


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


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


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

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


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


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


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


15 The eye also (of the adulterer) waiteth for the twilight, saying, 

No eye shall see me: 

and disguiseth his face.


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


17 For 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).


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


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


20 The 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.


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


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


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


24 They 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.


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




Chapter 25