Job 24

Job Says God Seems to Ignore Wrongs

1“1Why are 2times not stored up by the Almighty, And why do those who know Him not see 3His 4days?2People 5remove landmarks; They seize and 6devour flocks.3They drive away the donkeys of 7orphans; They seize the 8widow’s ox as a pledge.4They push 9the needy aside from the road; The 10poor of the land have to hide themselves together.5Behold, like 11wild donkeys in the wilderness They 12go out scavenging for food in their activity, As 13bread for their children in the desert.6They harvest their feed in the field And glean the vineyard of the wicked.714They spend the night naked, without clothing, And have no covering against the cold.8They are wet from the mountain rains, And they hug the rock for lack of a shelter.9Others snatch an 15orphan from the breast, And they seize it as a pledge against the poor.10The poor move about naked without clothing, And they carry sheaves, while going hungry.11Within the walls they produce oil; They tread wine presses but go thirsty.12From the city people groan, And the souls of the wounded cry for help; Yet God 16does not pay attention to the offensiveness.

13“17Others have been with those who rebel against the light; They do not want to know its ways Nor stay in its paths.14The murderer 18arises at dawn; He 19kills the poor and the needy, And at night he is like a thief.15The eye of the 20adulterer watches for 21twilight, Saying, ‘No eye will see me.’ And he 22disguises his face.16In the darkness they 23dig into houses, They 24shut themselves up by day; They do not know the light.17For the morning is the same to him as thick darkness, For he is familiar with the 25terrors of thick darkness.

18“They are 2627insignificant on the surface of the water; Their plot of land on the earth is 28cursed. They do not turn 29toward the 30vineyards.19Dryness and heat 31snatch away the snow waters, As 3233Sheol snatches those who have sinned.20A 3435mother will forget him; The 36maggot feeds sweetly until he is 37no longer remembered. And injustice will be broken 38like a tree.21He wrongs the 39infertile woman, And does no good for 40the widow.22But He drags off the mighty by 41His power; He rises, but 42no one has assurance of life.23He provides them 43with security, and they are supported; And His 44eyes are on their ways.24They are exalted a 45little while, then they are gone; Moreover, they are 46brought low, and like everything they are gathered up; Like the heads of grain they wither.25Now if it is not so, 47who can prove me a liar, And make my speech worthless?”