Bible-Reading.comJob 23
1Then Job answered and said,
2Even today is my complaint rebellious: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!
4I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
6Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.
7There the upright might reason with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
8Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
9On the left hand, when he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.
10But he knoweth the way that I take; when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11My foot hath held fast to his steps; his way have I kept, and turned not aside.
12I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
13But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
14For he performeth that which is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.
15Therefore am I troubled at his presence; when I consider, I am afraid of him.
16For God hath made my heart faint, and the Almighty hath troubled me:
17Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.
Job 24
1Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? and why do not they which know him see his days?
2There are that remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed them.
3They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.
4They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.
5Behold, as wild asses in the desert they go forth to their work, seeking diligently for meat; the wilderness yieldeth them food for their children.
6They cut their provender in the field; and they glean the vintage of the wicked.
7They lie all night naked without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.
8They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
9There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor:
10So that they go about naked without clothing, and being an-hungred they carry the sheaves;
11They make oil within the walls of these men; they tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.
12From out of the populous city men groan, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God imputeth it not for folly.
13These are of them that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
14The murderer riseth with the light, he killeth the poor and needy; and in the night he is as a thief.
15The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and he disguiseth his face.
16In the dark they dig through houses: they shut themselves up in the daytime; they know not the light.
17For the morning is to all of them as the shadow of death; for they know the terrors of the shadow of death.
18He is swift upon the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he turneth not by the way of the vineyards.
19Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth Sheol those which have sinned.
20The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered: and unrighteousness shall be broken as a tree.
21He devoureth the barren that beareth not; and doeth not good to the widow.
22He draweth away the mighty also by his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.
23God giveth them to be in security, and they rest thereon; and his eyes are upon their ways.
24They are exalted; yet a little while, and they are gone; yea, they are brought low, they are taken out of the way as all other, and are cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.
25And if it be not so now, who will prove me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?