Job 24:1-12

Job Complains of God's Indifference to Wickedness

24¹ Why are times not stored up by the Ruler of all, and why do those who have knowledge of him not see his days? ² The landmarks are changed by evil men, they violently take away flocks, together with their keepers. ³ They send away the ass of him who has no father, they take the widow's ox for debt. ⁴ The crushed are turned out of the way; all the poor of the earth go into a secret place together. ⁵ Like asses in the waste land they go out to their work, looking for food with care; from the waste land they get bread for their children. ⁶ They get mixed grain from the field, and they take away the late fruit from the vines of those who have wealth. ⁷ They take their rest at night without clothing, and have no cover in the cold. ⁸ They are wet with the rain of the mountains, and get into the cracks of the rock for cover. ⁹ The child without a father is forced from its mother's breast, and they take the young children of the poor for debt. ¹⁰ Others go about without clothing, and though they have no food, they get in the grain from the fields. ¹¹ Between the lines of olive-trees they make oil; though they have no drink, they are crushing out the grapes. ¹² From the town come sounds of pain from those who are near death, and the soul of the wounded is crying out for help; but God does not take note of their prayer.