< 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 treasured up with the Almighty? why do not they that know him see his days?
2 Some remoue the land marks, that rob the flockes and feede thereof.
They remove the landmarks; they violently take away the flocks and pasture them;
3 They leade away the asse of the fatherles: and take the widowes oxe to pledge.
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, 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 afflicted of the land 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.
Lo, [as] wild asses in the desert, they go forth to their work, seeking early for the prey: the wilderness [yieldeth] them food for [their] children.
6 They reape his prouision in the fielde, but they gather the late vintage of the wicked.
They reap in the field the fodder thereof, and they gather the vintage of the wicked;
7 They cause the naked to lodge without garment, and without couering in the colde.
They pass the 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 for want of a shelter embrace the rock...
9 They plucke the fatherles from the breast, and take the pledge of the poore.
They 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.
These go naked without clothing, and, hungry, they bear the sheaf;
11 They that make oyle betweene their walles, and treade their wine presses, suffer thirst.
They press out oil within their walls, they tread their winepresses, 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.
Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out; and God imputeth not the impiety.
13 These are they, that abhorre the light: they know not the wayes thereof, nor continue in the paths thereof.
There are those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
14 The murtherer riseth earely and killeth the poore and the needie: and in the night he is as a theefe.
The murderer riseth with the light, killeth the afflicted and needy, and in the night is as a thief.
15 The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, and sayth, None eye shall see me, and disguiseth his face.
And the eye of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me; and he putteth a covering on [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; by day they shut themselves in; they know not 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 them all [as] the shadow of death; for they are familiar with the terrors of the shadow of death.
18 He is swift vpon the waters: their portion shalbe cursed in the earth: he will not behold the way of the vineyardes.
He is swift on the face of the waters; their portion is cursed on the earth: he turneth not unto 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 snow waters; so doth Sheol those that have sinned. (Sheol h7585)
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 forgetteth him; the worm feedeth sweetly on him: he shall be no more remembered; and unrighteousness is broken as a tree, —
21 He doth euil intreat ye barren, that doeth not beare, neither doeth he good to the widowe.
He that despoileth the barren that beareth not, and doeth not good to the widow:
22 He draweth also the mighty by his power, and when he riseth vp, none is sure of life.
He draweth also the mighty with his power; he riseth up, and no [man] is sure of life.
23 Though men giue him assurance to be in safetie, yet his eyes are vpon their wayes.
[God] setteth him in safety, and he resteth thereon; but his eyes are upon 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 for a little, and are no more; they are laid low; like all [other] are they gathered, and are cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.
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 be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?

< Job 24 >