18 “You say, (A)‘Swift are they on the face of the waters;
    their portion is cursed in the land;
    no treader turns toward their vineyards.
19 Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters;
    so does (B)Sheol those who have sinned.
20 The womb forgets them;
    the worm finds them sweet;
they are (C)no longer remembered,
    so wickedness is broken like (D)a tree.’

21 “They wrong the barren, childless woman,
    and do no good to the widow.
22 Yet God[a] prolongs the life of the mighty by his power;
    they rise up when they despair of life.
23 He gives them security, and they are supported,
    and his (E)eyes are upon their ways.
24 They are exalted (F)a little while, and then (G)are gone;
    they are brought low and gathered up like all others;
    they are (H)cut off like the heads of grain.
25 If it is (I)not so, who will prove me a liar
    and show that there is nothing in what I say?”

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Footnotes

  1. Job 24:22 Hebrew he

Social Injustice will Be Punished

18 “They remain only a short time on the water’s surface;
    their inheritance will be cursed in the land;
        no one will work in their vineyards.
19 As drought and heat evaporate melting snow,
    that’s what Sheol[a] does with sinners.
20 The womb will forget them.
    Maggots will find them to be a delicacy!
They won’t be remembered anymore,
    their iniquity will be cut to pieces like firewood.[b]

21 “They prey on the barren woman,
    and do no favors for widows.
22 God[c] prolongs the life of the strong by his power,
    but they get up in the morning[d] without purpose in life.
23 He gives them security and financial support,
    but he watches everything they do.
24 They’re exalted momentarily, but then they are gone;
    they are humbled,[e] just like all the others.
        They are cut down like heads of corn.
25 If this weren’t so, who can prove that I’m a liar
    by showing that there’s nothing to what I’m saying?”

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Footnotes

  1. Job 24:19 I.e. the realm of the afterlife
  2. Job 24:20 Lit. like a tree
  3. Job 24:22 Lit. He
  4. Job 24:22 The Heb. lacks in the morning
  5. Job 24:24 Or brought low