Job: Why are the Wicked Unpunished

1Times are not hid from the Almighty: but they that know him, know not his days.

2Some have removed landmarks, have taken away flocks by force, and fed them.

3They have driven away the ass of the fatherless, and have taken away the widow's ox for a pledge.

4They have overturned the way of the poor, and have oppressed together the meek of the earth.

5Others like wild asses in the desert go forth to their work: by watching for a prey they get bread for their children.

6They reap the field that is not their own, and gather the vintage of his vineyard whom by violence they have oppressed.

7They send men away naked, taking away their clothes who have no covering in the cold:

8Who are wet, with the showers of the mountains, and having no covering embrace the stones.

9They have violently robbed the fatherless, and stripped the poor common people.

10From the naked and them that go without clothing, and from the hungry they have taken away the ears of corn.

11They have taken their rest at noon among the stores of them, who after having trodden the winepresses suffer thirst.

12Out of the cities they have made men to groan, and the soul of the wounded hath cried out, and God doth not suffer it to pass unrevenged.

13They have been rebellious to the light, they have not known his ways, neither have they returned by his paths.

14The murderer riseth at the very break of day, he killeth the needy, and the poor man: but in the night he will be as a thief.

15The eye of the adulterer observeth darkness, saying: No eye shall see me: and he will cover his face.

16He diggeth through houses in the dark, as in the day they had appointed for themselves, and they have not known the light.

17If the morning suddenly appear, it is to them the shadow of death: and they walk in darkness as if it were in light.

18He is light upon the face of the water: cursed be his portion on the earth, let him not walk by the way of the vineyards.

19Let him pass from the snow waters to excessive heat, and his sin even to hell.

20Let mercy forget him: may worms be his sweetness: let him be remembered no more, but be broken in pieces as an unfruitful tree.

21For he hath fed the barren that beareth not, and to the widow he hath done no good.

22He hath pulled down the strong by his might: and when he standeth up, he shall not trust to his life.

23God hath given him place for penance, and he abuseth it unto pride: but his eyes are upon his ways.

24They are lifted up for a little while and shall not stand, and shall be brought down as all things, and shall be taken away, and as the tops of the ears of corn they shall be broken.

25And if it be not so, who can convince me that I have lied, and set my words before God?