Job 24
Job 24 is part of “Third Cycle of Dialogue” (22–31) in the outline of Job.
Job 24 summary
Job having by his complaints in the foregoing chapter given vent to his passion, and thereby gained some ease, breaks them off abruptly, and now applies himself to a further discussion of the doctrinal controversy between him and his friends concerning the prosperity of wicked people. That many live at ease who yet are ungodly and profane, and despise all the exercises of devotion, he had shown, ch. 21. Now here he goes further, and shows that many who are mischievous to mankind, and live in open defiance to all the laws of justice and common honesty, yet thrive and succeed in their unrighteous practices; and we do not see them reckoned with…
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Job having by his complaints in the foregoing chapter given vent to his passion, and thereby gained some ease, breaks them off abruptly, and now applies himself to a further discussion of the doctrinal controversy between him and his friends concerning the prosperity of wicked people. That many live at ease who yet are ungodly and profane, and despise all the exercises of devotion, he had shown, ch. 21. Now here he goes further, and shows that many who are mischievous to mankind, and live in open defiance to all the laws of justice and common honesty, yet thrive and succeed in their unrighteous practices; and we do not see them reckoned with in this world. What he had said before (Job 12:6), "The tabernacles of robbers prosper," he here enlarges upon. He lays down his general proposition (Job 24:1), that the punishment of wicked people is not so visible and apparent as his friends supposed, and then proves it by an induction of particulars. I. Those that openly do wrong to their poor neighbours are not reckoned with, nor the injured righted (Job 24:2-12), though the former are very barbarous (Job 24:21, Job 24:22). II. Those that secretly practise mischief often go undiscovered and unpunished (Job 24:13-17). III. That God punished such by secret judgments and reserves them for future judgments (Job 24:18-20, and Job 24:23-25), so that, upon the whole matter, we cannot say that all who are in trouble are wicked; for it is certain that all who are in prosperity are not righteous.
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Job 24 (ASV)
American Standard Version (public domain)
Job Continues: Why Are Times Not Set by the Almighty?
1Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? And why do not they that 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 all hide themselves. 5Behold, as wild asses in the desert They go forth to their work, seeking diligently for food; The wilderness [yieldeth] them bread 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; 10[So that] they go about naked without clothing, And being hungry 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 regardeth not the 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 day-time; They know not the light. 17For the morning is to all of them as thick darkness; For they know the terrors of the thick darkness. 18Swiftly they [pass away] upon the face of the waters; Their portion is cursed in the earth: They turn not into the way of the vineyards. 19Drought and heat consume the snow waters: [So doth] Sheol [those that] 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. 22Yet [God] preserveth the mighty by his power: He riseth up that hath no assurance of life. 23[God] 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 others, And are cut off as the tops of the ears of grain. 25And if it be not so now, who will prove me a liar, And make my speech nothing worth?