Job Keeps On Talking

24 “Why are times for judging not set up by the All-powerful? And why do those who know Him not see these days? ² Some take away the land-marks and take fields and animals. ³ They drive away the donkeys that belong to those who have no parents. They take the bull that belongs to a woman whose husband has died, as a promise that she will pay what she owes. ⁴ They push poor people off the road. All the poor of the land are made to hide themselves. ⁵ See, they go out like wild donkeys in the desert to look for food for their children. ⁶ They gather food in the fields, and gather what they can that is left from the grape-fields owned by the sinful. ⁷ They lie all night without clothing, and have no covering in the cold. ⁸ They are wet with the mountain rains and stay close to the rocks for cover. ⁹ Others take from the breast the child who has no father. They take the child from the poor as a promise that they will pay what they owe. ¹⁰ They make the poor go about without clothing, making them carry loads of cut grain while they are hungry. ¹¹ Among the olive trees they make oil. They crush grapes but they are thirsty. ¹² Men from the city cry inside themselves. The souls of those who are hurt cry out. Yet God does not listen to their prayer.

¹³ “Then there are those who turn against the light. They do not want to know its ways or stay in its paths. ¹⁴ The one who kills people gets up early in the morning. He kills the poor and those in need. And during the night he is like a robber. ¹⁵ The eye of the one who is not faithful in marriage waits for the evening, saying, ‘No one will see me.’ And he covers his face. ¹⁶ In the dark they dig into houses. They shut themselves up during the day and do not know the light. ¹⁷ For midnight is morning to them. They are not afraid of the fears of darkness.

¹⁸ “They are taken away on the top of the waters. Their part of the earth is cursed. They do not go to their grape-fields. ¹⁹ Dry weather and heat take away the water from the snow, just as the place of the dead takes away those who have sinned. ²⁰ A mother will forget him. The worm is pleased to eat him until he is remembered no more. Sin will be broken like a tree. ²¹ He does wrong to the woman who cannot give birth. And he does no good for the woman whose husband has died. ²² But God by His power gives long life to the strong. They rise again, even when they had no hope of life. ²³ He makes them safe and gives them strength, and His eyes are on their ways. ²⁴ They are given honor for a little while, and then they are gone. They are brought low and gathered up as all others are. They are cut off like the heads of grain. ²⁵ If it is not so, who can prove me a liar, and show that what I say means nothing?”