18 Light he 'is' on the face of the waters, Vilified is their portion in the earth, He turneth not the way of vineyards. 19 Drought—also heat—consume snow-waters, Sheol 'those who' have sinned. 20 Forget him doth the womb, Sweeten 'on' him doth the worm, No more is he remembered, And broken as a tree is wickedness. 21 Treating evil the barren 'who' beareth not, And 'to' the widow he doth no good, 22 And hath drawn the mighty by his power, He riseth, and none believeth in life. 23 He giveth to him confidence, and he is supported, And his eyes 'are' on their ways. 24 High they were 'for' a little, and they are not, And they have been brought low. As all 'others' they are shut up, And as the head of an ear of corn cut off. 25 And if not now, who doth prove me a liar, And doth make of nothing my word?
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 24:18-25
Commentary on Job 24:18-25
(Read Job 24:18-25)
Sometimes how gradual is the decay, how quiet the departure of a wicked person, how is he honoured, and how soon are all his cruelties and oppressions forgotten! They are taken off with other men, as the harvestman gathers the ears of corn as they come to hand. There will often appear much to resemble the wrong view of Providence Job takes in this chapter. But we are taught by the word of inspiration, that these notions are formed in ignorance, from partial views. The providence of God, in the affairs of men, is in every thing a just and wise providence. Let us apply this whenever the Lord may try us. He cannot do wrong. The unequalled sorrows of the Son of God when on earth, unless looked at in this view, perplex the mind. But when we behold him, as the sinner's Surety, bearing the curse, we can explain why he should endure that wrath which was due to sin, that Divine justice might be satisfied, and his people saved.