Job 24

1 Howe should not the times be hid from the Almightie, seeing that they which knowe him, see not his dayes?

“Why are not times laid up by the Almighty? Why do not those who know him see his days?

2 Some remoue the land marks, that rob the flockes and feede thereof.

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

3 They leade away the asse of the fatherles: and take the widowes oxe to pledge.

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

4 They make the poore to turne out of the way, so that the poore of the earth hide themselues together.

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

5 Behold, others as wilde asses in the wildernesse, goe forth to their businesse, and rise early for a praye: the wildernesse giueth him and his children foode.

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 reape his prouision in the fielde, but they gather the late vintage of the wicked.

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

7 They cause the naked to lodge without garment, and without couering in the colde.

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

8 They are wet with the showres of the moutaines, and they imbrace the rocke for want of a couering.

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

9 They plucke the fatherles from the breast, and take the pledge of the poore.

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

10 They cause him to go naked without clothing, and take the glening from the hungrie.

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

11 They that make oyle betweene their walles, and treade their wine presses, suffer thirst.

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

12 Men cry out of the citie, and the soules of the slayne cry out: yet God doth not charge them with follie.

From out of the populous city, men groan. The soul of the wounded cries out, yet God does not regard the folly.

13 These are they, that abhorre the light: they know not the wayes thereof, nor continue in the paths thereof.

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

14 The murtherer riseth earely and killeth the poore and the needie: and in the night he is as a theefe.

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, and sayth, None eye shall see me, and disguiseth his face.

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

16 They digge through houses in the darke, which they marked for themselues in the daye: they knowe not the light.

In the dark they dig through houses. They shut themselves up in the daytime. They do not know the light.

17 But the morning is euen to them as the shadow of death: if one knowe them, they are in the terrours of the shadowe 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 vpon the waters: their portion shalbe cursed in the earth: he will not behold the way of the vineyardes.

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

19 As the dry ground and heate consume the snowe waters, so shall the graue the sinners. (Sheol h7585)

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

20 The pitifull man shall forget him: the worme shall feele his sweetenes: he shalbe no more remembered, and the wicked shalbe broke like 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 doth euil intreat ye barren, that doeth not beare, neither doeth he good to the widowe.

He devours the barren who do not bear. He shows no kindness to the widow.

22 He draweth also the mighty by his power, and when he riseth vp, none is sure of life.

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

23 Though men giue him assurance to be in safetie, yet his eyes are vpon their wayes.

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

24 They are exalted for a litle, but they are gone, and are brought lowe as all others: they are destroyed, and cut off as the toppe of an eare of corne.

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 But if it be not so, where is he? or who wil proue me a lyer, and make my words of no value?

If it is not so now, who will prove me a liar, and make my speech worth nothing?”