Moff JOB Chapter 24

hungry while they are harvesting,

pressing the oil between the 11 rows of olives,

thirsty while they crush wine from grapes.

Others evade the daylight,

caring not for the ways of God,

refusing to pursue his paths.

The murderer rises in the dark,

to kill poor folk and helpless;

The groan of victims rises from the town,

and wounded men cry out--

but God pays no heed to the crime.

The adulterer watches for the twilight;

he muffles up his face,

and mutters, ‘Not a soul will see me!’

The thief prowls in the night,

and breaks into houses in the dark;

thieves keep themselves shut up during the day,

they all detest the light;

they choose the midnight as their time,

they are familiar with the ways of darkness.

[[He is swept off by the flood,

a curse lies on his property;

no foot turns to his vineyard,

ruined by drought and heat,

flooded with melting snow.

The streets of his native place forget him,

his greatness is no more remembered,

he is uprooted like a rotten tree,

he who ill-treats the widow,

and pities not her children.]]

Yet God lets them remain alive and strong;

they rise, though they despaired of life;

He lets them rest in safety,

he watches over them!

[[Have patience! they will soon be gone,

brought low and bundled off like all the rest,

lopped like the ears of com.]]

Who can deny it? who can prove I lie,

and show that what I urge is idle talk?”

25 Then Bildad the Shuhite * answered:

“What a help you are to poor God!

What a support to his failing powers!

What wise directions you can give to him,

out of your ample stores of knowledge!

Who helped you to such eloquence?

Who was it that inspired you?