Job 24:19-25

19 ad nimium calorem transeat ab aquis nivium et usque ad inferos peccatum illius

20 obliviscatur eius misericordia dulcedo illius vermes non sit in recordatione sed conteratur quasi lignum infructuosum

21 pavit enim sterilem et quae non parit et viduae bene non fecit

22 detraxit fortes in fortitudine sua et cum steterit non credet vitae suae

23 dedit ei Deus locum paenitentiae et ille abutitur eo in superbiam oculi autem eius sunt in viis illius

24 elevati sunt ad modicum et non subsistent et humiliabuntur sicut omnia et auferentur et sicut summitates spicarum conterentur

25 quod si non est ita quis me potest arguere esse mentitum et ponere ante Deum verba mea

Job 24:19-25 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.