Job 24 (3)

Notes

DELAY (vv. 18-24) - Why does God seem to treat the righteous and the wicked the same?

confusion? Are these the words of Job’s friends? Is this Zophar’s lost third speech?

Job 24:18 ESV

18 “You say, ‘Swift are they on the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the land; no treader turns toward their vineyards.

The words “You say” are not in Hebrew but may be implied by the content of vv. 18-21 which lines up with the perspective of Job’s friends.

curses? Is Job cursing the wicked?

“let their portion be cursed in the land,” (v. 18b)

change in perspective? Is Job changing his tune here?

continuation? Or is Job continuing along the same course? If so, how?

vv. 18-20, Yes, just as Job’s friends have previously said, the wicked will float away like trash passing down stream; they will be consumed like melting snow, and forgotten just as they have been forgotten by the waters of their mothers’ wombs. Yes, the wickedness of the wicked will one day be broken.

vv. 21, But until then, the wicked go on wronging barren women and harming widows.

vv. 22, God can drag the valiant off by His power; if He rises up to administer justice, no man can be sure of life.

vv. 23, But God seems to provide the wicked security and support, even though He sees their evil ways.

v. 24, They are exalted a little while, and, yes, then they are gone; brought low, cut off, and dry out like harvested heads of grain—but isn’t that just like everything else?

NASB - “(the wicked) are brought low and like everything gathered up… they are cut off.”

ESV - “(the wicked) are brought low and gathered up like all others...”

KJV/NKJV - “(the wicked) are taken out of the way like all others...”

CSB - “they are brought low and shrivel up like everything else...”

NLT - “in a moment they will be gone like all others...”

DARE (v. 25) - Job asks, “Who can prove me wrong?”