Job 24

Thomson^{(i) 1} But why have set times escaped the notice of the Lord; ² and the wicked transgressed all bounds; and ravaged both the flock and the shepherd? ³ They have driven away the ass of the fatherless; and taken the widow's cow for a pledge. ⁴ They have turned the weak out of the right way; and with one consent the meek of the land are hidden ⁵ and are gone away like asses in a field. They are sprung up above me in their own order. To one, bread is sweetened for his children; ⁶ others have reaped before dawn a field not their own; exhausted of strength have Worked the vineyards of the wicked without wages and without food. ⁷ They have caused many to sleep naked without covering; they have stripped them of clothing necessary for life. ⁸ These are wet with the dew of the mountains: and having no shelter they cling to a rock. ⁹ They have torn the orphan from the breast: and him who had fallen they have pressed down. ¹⁰ They have by injustice caused some to be naked; and robbed the hungry of their morsel. ¹¹ They have entrapped some unjustly in straits, and the path of justice they did not know. ¹² Some are expelled from the city and their own houses: and the soul of babes heave heavy groans. ¹³ Now why hath he not called these to account while on earth? Though they did not acknowledge; though they did not know the way of justice; did they not still go on in their courses? ¹⁴ And hath he who knew their works delivered them up to darkness? And will he be as a thief in the night? ¹⁵ When the eye of the adulterer watched for darkness; saying, No eye shall discover me; when he having put a mask on his face ¹⁶ digged through houses in the dark: [during the day they had shut themselves up; they had no acquaintance with light] ¹⁷ because the morning is to all these as the shadow of death; because the terror of the shadow of death should acknowledge them; ¹⁸ is it swift on the face of the water? The portion of these on the earth should be cursed ¹⁹ and their plants exposed dry on the ground: for they plundered the sheaf of orphans. ²⁰ Now was such a one's sin brought to remembrance? Though he was dark as the darkness of night; retribution should be made for what he hath done: and every wicked man should be broken; like a tree which cannot be healed. ²¹ Because lie did not treat the barren with tenderness, and had no compassion for a poor weak woman. ²² But overthrew the helpless with wrath: therefore when he riseth he should have no security for his own life: ²³ when sick, he should have no hopes of recovery: but should perish by his disorder. ²⁴ As his exaltation afflicted many: he should wither like mallows by heat: or like an ear of corn which fell of itself from the stalk. ²⁵ Now if this is not the case; who can say I have spoken falsehoods: and set my words at naught?