Job 24:13-23

13 They have been rebellious to the light, they have not known his ways, neither have they returned by his paths.

14 The murderer riseth at the very break of day, he killeth the needy, and the poor man: but in the night he will be as a thief.

15 The eye of the adulterer observeth darkness, saying: No eye shall see me: and he will cover his face.

16 He diggeth through houses in the dark, as in the day they had appointed for themselves, and they have not known the light.

17 If the morning suddenly appear, it is to them the shadow of death: and they walk in darkness as if it were in light.

18 He is light upon the face of the water: cursed be his portion on the earth, let him not walk by the way of the vineyards.

19 Let him pass from the snow waters to excessive heat, and his sin even to hell.

20 Let mercy forget him: may worms be his sweetness: let him be remembered no more, but be broken in pieces as an unfruitful tree.

21 For he hath fed the barren that beareth not, and to the widow he hath done no good.

22 He hath pulled down the strong by his might: and when he standeth up, he shall not trust to his life.

23 God hath given him place for penance, and he abuseth it unto pride: but his eyes are upon his ways.

Job 24:13-23 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.