New Living Translation
Job 24:23
23They may be allowed to live in security, but God is always watching them.
Job 24:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways.
- New International Version (NIV)He may let them rest in a feeling of security, but his eyes are on their ways.
- English Standard Version (ESV)He gives them security, and they are supported, and his eyes are upon their ways.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He gives them security, and they rely on it; Yet His eyes are on their ways.
Context of Job 24:23
21They cheat the woman who has no son to help her. They refuse to help the needy widow. 22“God, in his power, drags away the rich. They may rise high, but they have no assurance of life. They may be allowed to live in security, but God is always watching them. 24And though they are great now, in a moment they will be gone like all others, cut off like heads of grain. 25Can anyone claim otherwise? Who can prove me wrong?”
Read all of Job 24Job 24:23 word by word
יִתֶּן־ל֣וֹ לָ֭בֶטַח וְיִשָּׁעֵ֑ן וְ֝עֵינֵ֗יהוּ עַל־דַּרְכֵיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 24:23
- Psalms 73:3For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
- Jeremiah 12:1Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you. So let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy?
- Ecclesiastes 8:11When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong.
- Isaiah 10:8He will say, ‘Each of my princes will soon be a king.
- Isaiah 56:12“Come,” they say, “let’s get some wine and have a party. Let’s all get drunk. Then tomorrow we’ll do it again and have an even bigger party!”
- Luke 12:16Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:3When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.
- Psalms 10:13Why do the wicked get away with despising God? They think, “God will never call us to account.”
- Psalms 11:4But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth.
- Proverbs 5:21For the Lord sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes.
- Proverbs 15:3The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.
- Proverbs 25:21If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink.
- Ecclesiastes 5:8Don’t be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land. For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice get lost in red tape and bureaucracy.
- Amos 8:7Now the Lord has sworn this oath by his own name, the Pride of Israel: “I will never forget the wicked things you have done!
- Amos 9:2“Even if they dig down to the place of the dead, I will reach down and pull them up. Even if they climb up into the heavens, I will bring them down.
- Habakkuk 1:13But you are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil. Will you wink at their treachery? Should you be silent while the wicked swallow up people more righteous than they?
Commentaries on Job 24:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Though it be given him to be in safety - The Vulgate gives this verse a singular turn: Dedit ei Deus locum paenitentiae, et ille abutitur eo in superbiam, "God gave him space for repentance, but he has abused it through pride." This is by no means conformable to the original. I think the words should be translated thus: "He gives them (i.e., the guards) to him for security, and he leans upon them; yet his eyes are upon their ways." Though he have taken…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Though it be given him to be in safety - That is, God gives him safety. The name God is often understood, or not expressed. The meaning is, that God gives this wicked man, or oppressor, safety. He is permitted to live a life of security and tranquility. Whereon he resteth - Or, rather, “And he is sustained, or upheld” - (וישׁען veyshâ‛an ). The meaning is, that he is sustained or upheld by God. Yet his eyes are upon their ways - “And the eyes of God are…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-25Verses 18-25 Sometimes how gradual is the decay, how quiet the departure of a wicked person, how is he honoured, and how soon are all his cruelties and oppressions forgotten! They are taken off with other men, as the harvestman gathers the ears of corn as they come to hand. There will often appear much to resemble the wrong view of Providence Job takes in this chapter. But we are taught by the word of inspiration, that these notions are formed in…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-24These ideas seem to go against Job's observations. Some scholars think Bildad or Zophar might have said them. However, Job might have been speaking against evil people, making fun of his friends' opinions by quoting them. Or he might have meant that the fate of evil people also affects those in a right relationship with God. His friends described this earlier (5:2–7; 15:17–25; 8:8–19; 18:5–21; 20:4–29; 21:23–26).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-242-24. Instances of the wicked doing the worst deeds with seeming impunity (Job 24:2-24). Some--the wicked. landmarks--boundaries between different pastures (De 19:14; Pr 22:28).Read the comment
Topics related to Job 24:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 24
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
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