Job 24

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

“Why aren’t times laid up by the Almighty? Why don’t those who know him see his days?

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

There are people who remove the landmarks. They violently take away flocks, and feed them.

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

They drive away the donkey of the fatherless, and 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.

They turn the needy out of the way. The poor of the earth all hide themselves.

5 Behold, as wild asses in the desert they go forth to their work, seeking diligently for meat; the wilderness [yieldeth] them food for their children.

Behold, as wild donkeys in the desert, they go out to their work, seeking diligently for food. The wilderness yields them bread for their children.

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

They cut their food in the field. They glean the vineyard of the wicked.

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

They lie all night naked without clothing, and 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.

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

9 There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor:

There are those who pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor,

10 [So that] they go about naked without clothing, and being an-hungred they carry the sheaves;

so that they go around naked without clothing. Being hungry, they carry the sheaves.

11 They make oil within the walls of these men; they tread [their] winepresses, and suffer thirst.

They make oil within the walls of these men. They tread wine presses, and suffer thirst.

12 From out of the populous city men groan, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God imputeth it not for folly.

From out of the populous city, men groan. The soul of the wounded cries out, yet God doesn’t regard the folly.

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

“These are of those who rebel against the light. They don’t know its ways, nor stay in its paths.

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

The murderer rises with the light. He kills the poor and needy. In the night he is like a thief.

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

The eye also of the adulterer waits for the twilight, saying, ‘No eye will see me.’ He disguises his face.

16 In the dark they dig through houses: they shut themselves up in the daytime; they know not the light.

In the dark they dig through houses. They shut themselves up in the daytime. They don’t know the light.

17 For the morning is to all of them as the shadow of death; for they know the terrors of the shadow of death.

For the morning is to all of them like thick darkness, for they know the terrors of the thick darkness.

18 He is swift upon the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he turneth not by the way of the vineyards.

“They are foam on the surface of the waters. Their portion is cursed in the earth. They don’t turn into the way of the vineyards.

19 Drought and heat consume the snow waters: [so doth] Sheol [those which] have sinned. (Sheol h7585)

Drought and heat consume the snow waters, so does Sheol those who have sinned. (Sheol h7585)

20 The 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.

The womb will forget him. The worm will feed sweetly on him. He will be no more remembered. Unrighteousness will be broken as a tree.

21 He devoureth the barren that beareth not; and doeth not good to the widow.

He devours the barren who don’t bear. He shows no kindness to the widow.

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

Yet God preserves the mighty by his power. He rises up who has no assurance of life.

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

God gives them security, and they rest in it. His eyes are on their ways.

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

They are exalted; yet a little while, and they are gone. Yes, 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.

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

If it isn’t so now, who will prove me a liar, and make my speech worth nothing?”