Job 24:13-25

Sinners’ conduct

13 They rebel against light, don't acknowledge its direction, don't dwell in its paths.
14 The murderer rises at twilight, kills the poor and needy; at night, they are like a thief.
15 The adulterer's eye watches for twilight, thinking, No eye can see me, and puts a mask over his face.
16 In the dark they break into houses; they shut themselves in by day; they don't know the light.
17 Deep darkness is morning to them because they recognize the horror of darkness.
18 They are scum on the water's surface; their portion of the land is cursed; no one walks down a path in the vineyards.
19 Drought and heat steal melted snow, just as the underworld steals sinners.
20 The womb forgets them; the worm consumes them; they aren't remembered, and so wickedness is shattered like a tree.
21 They prey on the barren, the childless, do nothing good for the widow.
22 They drag away the strong by force; they may get up but without guarantee of survival.
23 They make themselves secure; they are at ease. His eyes are on their ways.
24 They are exalted for a short time, but no longer. They are humbled then gathered in like everyone else; cut off like heads of grain.
25 If this isn't so, who can prove me a liar and make my words disappear?

Job 24:13-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 24

This chapter contains the second part of Job's answer to the last discourse of Eliphaz, in which he shows that wicked men, those of the worst characters, prosper in the world, and go through it with impunity; he lays down this as a certain truth, that though no time is hid from God, yet they that are most familiar with him, and know most of him, do not see, and cannot observe, any days of his for judging and punishing wicked men in, this life, Job 24:1; and instances in men guilty of injustice, violence, oppression, cruelty, and inhumanity, to their neighbours, and yet God lays not folly to them, or charges them with sin, and punishes them for it, Job 24:2-12; and in persons that commit the most atrocious crimes in secret, such as murderers, adulterers, and thieves, Job 24:13-17; he allows that there is a curse upon their portion, and that the grave shall consume them, and they shall be remembered no more, Job 24:18-20; and because of their ill treatment of others, though they may be in safety and prosperity, and be exalted for a while, they shall be brought low and cut off by death, but generally speaking are not punished in this life, Job 24:21-24; and concludes with the greatest assurance of being in the right, and having truth on his side, Job 24:25.

Footnotes 2

Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible