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 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
Job Continues: Why Are Times Not Set by the Almighty?
1Howe should not the times be hid from the Almightie, seeing that they which knowe him, see not his dayes? 2Some remoue the land marks, that rob the flockes and feede thereof. 3They leade away the asse of the fatherles: and take the widowes oxe to pledge. 4They make the poore to turne out of the way, so that the poore of the earth hide themselues together. 5Behold, others as wilde asses in the wildernesse, goe forth to their businesse, and rise early for a praye: the wildernesse giueth him and his children foode. 6They reape his prouision in the fielde, but they gather the late vintage of the wicked. 7They cause the naked to lodge without garment, and without couering in the colde. 8They are wet with the showres of the moutaines, and they imbrace the rocke for want of a couering. 9They plucke the fatherles from the breast, and take the pledge of the poore. 10They cause him to go naked without clothing, and take the glening from the hungrie. 11They that make oyle betweene their walles, and treade their wine presses, suffer thirst. 12Men cry out of the citie, and the soules of the slayne cry out: yet God doth not charge them with follie. 13These are they, that abhorre the light: they know not the wayes thereof, nor continue in the paths thereof. 14The murtherer riseth earely and killeth the poore and the needie: and in the night he is as a theefe. 15The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, and sayth, None eye shall see me, and disguiseth his face. 16They digge through houses in the darke, which they marked for themselues in the daye: they knowe not the light. 17But the morning is euen to them as the shadow of death: if one knowe them, they are in the terrours of the shadowe of death. 18He is swift vpon the waters: their portion shalbe cursed in the earth: he will not behold the way of the vineyardes. 19As the dry ground and heate consume the snowe waters, so shall the graue the sinners. 20The pitifull man shall forget him: the worme shall feele his sweetenes: he shalbe no more remembered, and the wicked shalbe broke like a tree. 21He doth euil intreat ye barren, that doeth not beare, neither doeth he good to the widowe. 22He draweth also the mighty by his power, and when he riseth vp, none is sure of life. 23Though men giue him assurance to be in safetie, yet his eyes are vpon their wayes. 24They are exalted for a litle, but they are gone, and are brought lowe as all others: they are destroyed, and cut off as the toppe of an eare of corne. 25But if it be not so, where is he? or who wil proue me a lyer, and make my words of no value?