Add parallel Print Page Options

18 “He himself[a] is swift on the water’s surface;
their portion is cursed in the land.
No one turns toward the path of their vineyards.[b]
19 Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters,
like Sheol snatches away those[c] who have sinned.
20 The womb forgets him.
The maggot feasts on him until he is no longer remembered,
and wickedness is broken like a[d] tree.
21 He feeds on the barren, who does not have a child,
and does no good to the widow.
22 Yet[e] he[f] carries off the tyrants by his strength;
if he rises up, then[g] he[h] cannot be certain of life.[i]
23 He[j] gives security to him, and he is[k] supported,
but[l] his eyes are upon their ways.
24 They are exalted a little while, then[m] they are gone.[n]
And they are brought low; they are cut off like all others,
and like the heads of grain they wither away.
25 “And if it is not so, then who can prove me a liar
and reduce my word to nothing?”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Job 24:18 Emphatic personal pronoun
  2. Job 24:18 Literally “He does not turn toward the path of the vineyard”
  3. Job 24:19 Or “they/them”
  4. Job 24:20 Or “the”
  5. Job 24:22 Hebrew “And”
  6. Job 24:22 The probable antecedent is God
  7. Job 24:22 Hebrew “and”
  8. Job 24:22 The antecedent of the singular here probably changes to the wicked person
  9. Job 24:22 Hebrew “the life”
  10. Job 24:23 The probable antecedent is God
  11. Job 24:23 Or “they are”
  12. Job 24:23 Hebrew “and”
  13. Job 24:24 Literally “and”
  14. Job 24:24 Literally “he is not”

18 “They are [a](A)insignificant on the surface of the water;
Their plot of land on the earth is (B)cursed.
They do not turn [b]toward the (C)vineyards.
19 Dryness and heat (D)snatch away the snow waters,
As [c](E)Sheol snatches those who have sinned.
20 A [d](F)mother will forget him;
The (G)maggot feeds sweetly until he is (H)no longer remembered.
And injustice will be broken (I)like a tree.
21 He wrongs the [e]infertile woman,
And does no good for (J)the widow.
22 But He drags off the mighty by (K)His power;
He rises, but (L)no one has assurance of life.
23 He provides them (M)with security, and they are supported;
And His (N)eyes are on their ways.
24 They are exalted a (O)little while, then they are gone;
Moreover, they are (P)brought low, and like everything they are gathered up;
Like the heads of grain they wither.
25 Now if it is not so, (Q)who can prove me a liar,
And make my speech worthless?”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Job 24:18 Or light; or swift
  2. Job 24:18 Lit to the path of
  3. Job 24:19 I.e., the netherworld
  4. Job 24:20 Lit womb
  5. Job 24:21 Lit infertile who does not bear

18 “Yet they are foam(A) on the surface of the water;(B)
    their portion of the land is cursed,(C)
    so that no one goes to the vineyards.(D)
19 As heat and drought snatch away the melted snow,(E)
    so the grave(F) snatches away those who have sinned.
20 The womb forgets them,
    the worm(G) feasts on them;(H)
the wicked are no longer remembered(I)
    but are broken like a tree.(J)
21 They prey on the barren and childless woman,
    and to the widow they show no kindness.(K)
22 But God drags away the mighty by his power;(L)
    though they become established,(M) they have no assurance of life.(N)
23 He may let them rest in a feeling of security,(O)
    but his eyes(P) are on their ways.(Q)
24 For a little while they are exalted, and then they are gone;(R)
    they are brought low and gathered up like all others;(S)
    they are cut off like heads of grain.(T)

25 “If this is not so, who can prove me false
    and reduce my words to nothing?”(U)

Read full chapter