Job 24

1 “Why [for what reason, how] does the Almighty [Shadday, all-powerful One] not reserve [set apart, treasure] times [seasons, appointed moments] for judgment [punishment, justice]? Why [how, for what reason] may those who know [are acquainted with, understand] Him never [at no time, not at all] see [perceive, experience] His days [appointed times, seasons of judgment]? word study 2 Men [the wicked, evil men] move boundary stones [land marks, borders]; they pasture [feed, care for] stolen [plundered, taken by force] flocks [droves, herds of sheep or cattle]. word study 3 They drive away [steal, lead] the donkey [ass, male donkey] of the fatherless [orphan, child without a father] and take [for a pledge, as security] the widow’s [a woman whose husband has died] ox [cattle, oxen] in pledge [to guarantee a debt, to twist in pain]. word study 4 They push [turn aside, force out of the way] the needy [poor, oppressed, and in need of help] off the road [way, path, or manner of life] and force [oppress, turn out] all the poor [afflicted, humble, or weak] of the land [earth, country, or territory] into hiding [to secrete or withdraw, often for safety or protection, together]. word study 5 Indeed, like wild [untamed] donkeys [onagers, strong and fierce animals] in the desert [a barren, desolate wilderness], the poor [those in need, impoverished] go to work [their daily labor, task] foraging [searching diligently, seeking early] for food [bread, sustenance]; the wasteland [a desert, barren land] is food [nourishment, provision] for their children [young ones, youth]. word study 6 They gather [reap, harvest, or cut] fodder [mixed feed for cattle, provender] in the fields [of the land, or other people’s fields] and glean [gather the leftovers, or pick up what’s remaining] the vineyards [gardens of vines, or plots of land for crops] of the wicked [morally wrong, or guilty of sin against God]. word study 7 Without [lacking, having no] clothing [garments, outer covering], they spend the night [lie all night, take their rest] naked [exposed, unclothed]; they have no [nothing, none] covering [protection, garment] against the cold [low temperature, chill]. word study 8 Drenched [soaked, wet] by mountain [hill] rains [showers, storms], they huddle [embrace, cling to] against the rocks [boulders, stone] for want [lack, without] of shelter [refuge, safe place]. word study 9 The fatherless [orphan, without a father] infant [suckling child, baby] is snatched [plucked violently, taken away by force] from the breast [woman’s or animal’s breast, swollen with milk]; the nursing [young, suckling] child of the poor [afflicted, humble, weak] is seized [taken, laid hold of] for a debt [pledge, security for a loan]. word study 10 Without [lacking, having no] clothing [garments, covering], they wander about [go around, walk] naked [exposed, without covering]. They carry [lift, bear] the sheaves [bundles of grain, omers], but still [though hungry, in a state of want] go hungry [are starving, without food]. word study 11 They crush [press out, extract] olives [to make oil] within their walls [between the rows of plants, in their midst]; they tread [walk on, step on] the winepresses [containers for holding wine, troughs for crushing grapes], but go thirsty [suffer from lack of drink, feel parched]. word study 12 From the city [populous city, urban area], men [grown men, a few individuals] groan [express deep sadness, cry out in pain], and the souls [living beings, essence of a person] of the wounded [slain, hurt, or profaned ones] cry out [shout for help, freedom from trouble], yet God [Eloah, the one true God] charges [regards, sets] no one with wrongdoing [folly, foolish behavior, emptiness]. word study 13 Then there are those who [hate and abhor] rebel [to resist or defy authority] against the light [natural and spiritual illumination], not knowing [or discerning] its ways [paths or roads, referring to a way of life] or staying [to dwell or abide] on its paths [beaten tracks, guiding principles]. word study 14 When daylight [at the break of day, with the light] is gone, the murderer [one who slays, killer] rises [stands up, gets up] to kill [slay, destroy] the poor [afflicted, humble] and needy [those in need, oppressed]; in the night [time of darkness, period of adversity] he is like [comparable to, similar to] a thief [one who takes secretly, a robber]. word study 15 The eye [watchful, observant] of the adulterer [one who commits unfaithfulness] watches for twilight [dusk, the time of dawn or dusk]. Thinking [saying to himself], ‘No eye [a source of sight] will see me [observe, behold],’ he covers [disguises, hides] his face [presence]. word study 16 In the dark [of night, in secrecy] they dig [force a passage, break in] through houses [dwellings, homes]; by day [in the daytime, daily] they shut [seal, lock] themselves in [conceal themselves, hide], never to experience [know, perceive] the light [spiritual illumination, happiness]. word study 17 For [because of their nature] to them, deep darkness [thick darkness, shadow of death] is their morning [break of day, time of new beginnings]; surely they are friends [united, familiar] with the terrors [dreadful events, alarms] of darkness [deep distress, the grave]! word study 18 They are but foam [swiftly passing, like bubbles] on the surface [face] of the water [liquid, source of refreshment]; their portion [inheritance, allotted land] of the land [earth, territory] is cursed [vilified, brought into contempt], so that no one turns [faces, directs their path] toward their vineyards [gardens for growing vines]. word study 19 As [prolonged] drought and [intense] heat [or extreme temperatures] consume the melting snow [snow waters, icy liquid], so [the underworld, place of no return] Sheol [the grave, hell] steals [plunders, takes away by force] those who have [committed, missed the mark] sinned. word study 20 The womb [place of birth, mother’s body] forgets them; the worm [maggot] feeds on them; they are remembered [kept in mind, recalled] no more [not at all, never again]. So injustice [moral evil, wrongdoing] is like a broken [shattered, ruptured] tree [strong and firm, yet fragile]. word study 21 They prey [mistreat, devour] on the barren [sterile, unable to have children] and childless [women who have been unable to give birth], and show no kindness [do not do good, are mean] to the widow [a woman whose husband has died, often left alone and vulnerable]. word study 22 Yet by His [divine, supernatural] power [strength, might], God [the Almighty, All-Powerful] drags away [draws, pulls down, preserves] the mighty [strong, powerful]; though rising up [standing, getting up], they have no [none, not] assurance [faith, trust, belief] of life [existence, being alive]. word study 23 He gives [allows, grants] them a sense [feeling, assurance] of security [safety, refuge, trust], but His eyes [watchful care, observation] are on [over, above] their ways [path, journey, manner of life]. word study 24 They are exalted [for a little while, lifted up] for a moment, then they are gone [cut off, no longer exist]; they are brought low [humbled, to sink] and gathered up [taken out of the way, pulled off] like all [everything, every person] others; they are cut off [destroyed, clipped] like heads [tops] of grain [Shibboleth, an ear of corn]. word study 25 If [or whether] this is not [absent or lacking] so, then [at that time, now] who [which person] can prove [demonstrate or show] me a liar [deceiver, one who speaks falsehood] and reduce [make of no value or worthless] my words [speech, utterances, a word or speech, referring to a topic or subject] to nothing [of no worth, empty, not or nothing, used to express negation]?” word study