Job 9:24
New International Version
When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, then who is it?

New Living Translation
The whole earth is in the hands of the wicked, and God blinds the eyes of the judges. If he’s not the one who does it, who is?

English Standard Version
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges— if it is not he, who then is it?

Berean Standard Bible
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?

King James Bible
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?

New King James Version
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, who else could it be?

New American Standard Bible
“The earth is handed over to the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?

NASB 1995
“The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?

NASB 1977
“The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?

Legacy Standard Bible
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?

Amplified Bible
“The earth is given into the hands of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges [so that they are blind to justice]. If it is not He, then who is it [that is responsible for all this injustice]?

Christian Standard Bible
The earth is handed over to the wicked; he blindfolds its judges. If it isn’t he, then who is it?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The earth is handed over to the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it isn’t He, then who is it?

American Standard Version
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covereth the faces of the judges thereof: If it be not he, who then is it?

Contemporary English Version
And who else but God blindfolds the judges, then lets the wicked take over the earth?

English Revised Version
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if it be not he, who then is it?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The earth is handed over to the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If he isn't the one [doing this], who is?

Good News Translation
God gave the world to the wicked. He made all the judges blind. And if God didn't do it, who did?

International Standard Version
A land is given into the hands of a wicked person; he covers the faces of its judges. If it is not God, then who is it?"

Majority Standard Bible
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?

NET Bible
If a land has been given into the hand of a wicked man, he covers the faces of its judges; if it is not he, then who is it?

New Heart English Bible
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If not he, then who is it?

Webster's Bible Translation
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of its judges; if not, where, and who is he?

World English Bible
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If not he, then who is it?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Earth has been given "" Into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of her judges, "" If not—where, who [is] he?

Young's Literal Translation
Earth hath been given Into the hand of the wicked one. The face of its judges he covereth, If not -- where, who is he?

Smith's Literal Translation
The earth was given into the hand of the unjust one: he will cover the faces of her judges; if not now, who is it?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked, he covereth the face of the judges thereof: and if it be not he, who is it then?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Since the earth has been given into the hand of the impious, he covers the face of its judges; for if it is not him, then who is it?

New American Bible
The earth is given into the hands of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges. If it is not he, who then is it?

New Revised Standard Version
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the eyes of its judges— if it is not he, who then is it?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The earth is handed over to the wicked; and the faces of the judges are covered; if not, who can endure their wrath?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The Earth he has given into the hand of The Wicked One and the faces of Judges are covered, but who endures his anger?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covereth the faces of the judges thereof; If it be not He, who then is it?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For they are delivered into the hands of the unrighteous man: he covers the faces of the judges of the earth: but if it be not he, who is it?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job: How Can I Argue with God?
23When the scourge brings sudden death, He mocks the despair of the innocent. 24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is it? 25My days are swifter than a runner; they flee without seeing good.…

Cross References
Psalm 82:2-5
“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah / Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. / Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked. ...

Isaiah 5:20-23
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter. / Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. / Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine and champions in mixing strong drink, ...

Jeremiah 12:1
Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?

Habakkuk 1:2-4
How long, O LORD, must I call for help but You do not hear, or cry out to You, “Violence!” but You do not save? / Why do You make me see iniquity? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict abounds. / Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.

Micah 3:9-11
Now hear this, O leaders of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who despise justice and pervert all that is right, / who build Zion with bloodshed and Jerusalem with iniquity. / Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.”

Ecclesiastes 3:16
Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.

Isaiah 59:14-15
So justice is turned away, and righteousness stands at a distance. For truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty cannot enter. / Truth is missing, and whoever turns from evil becomes prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice.

Amos 5:7
There are those who turn justice into wormwood and cast righteousness to the ground.

Malachi 2:17
You have wearied the LORD with your words; yet you ask, “How have we wearied Him?” By saying, “All who do evil are good in the sight of the LORD, and in them He delights,” or, “Where is the God of justice?”

Proverbs 17:15
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.

Matthew 5:45
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

John 12:31
Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out.

2 Corinthians 4:4
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Ephesians 2:2
in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

1 John 5:19
We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.


Treasury of Scripture

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covers the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?

earth

Job 12:6-10
The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly

Job 21:7-15
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? …

Psalm 17:14
From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

he covereth

2 Samuel 15:30
And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

2 Samuel 19:4
But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

Esther 6:12
And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.

if not

Job 24:25
And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?

Job 32:2
Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.

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Job 9
1. Job acknowledges God's justice
22. Man's innocence is not to be condemned by afflictions














The earth is given into the hand of the wicked
This phrase suggests a transfer of power and control over the earth to those who are morally corrupt. The Hebrew word for "earth" is "erets," which can mean land, territory, or the entire world. In the context of Job, it reflects a perception of injustice and chaos in the world. Historically, this aligns with periods when Israel faced oppression from foreign powers, leading to a sense of divine abandonment. The "wicked" (Hebrew: "rasha") are those who act contrary to God's laws, often prospering despite their immorality. This raises theological questions about divine justice and the apparent success of evil in the world.

He blindfolds its judges
The imagery of blindfolding suggests a deliberate act of obscuring justice. In Hebrew, the word for "judges" is "shaphat," which refers to those who are supposed to uphold justice and righteousness. The act of blindfolding implies that these judges are unable to see the truth or make fair decisions. This can be seen as a critique of corrupt leadership and a society where justice is perverted. In a broader biblical context, it echoes the prophetic calls for justice and righteousness, as seen in books like Isaiah and Amos, where leaders are admonished for failing to uphold God's standards.

If it is not He, then who is it?
This rhetorical question challenges the reader to consider the sovereignty of God in the midst of apparent injustice. The pronoun "He" refers to God, suggesting that ultimately, God is in control, even when the world seems to be governed by the wicked. This reflects a deep theological struggle within the book of Job, where Job grapples with understanding God's role in his suffering. The question underscores the mystery of divine providence and the limits of human understanding. It invites believers to trust in God's ultimate justice and sovereignty, even when circumstances seem inexplicable. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative that affirms God's control over history and His ultimate plan for redemption and justice.

Verse 24. - The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. As a further proof of God's indifference to the sufferings of the innocent, Job adduces the fact that, in the high places of the earth, are mostly set wicked persons, who oppress and persecute the righteous. This has probably been true, in the East at any rate, at all times. He covereth the faces of the judges thereof. God covers up the eyes of those who have to judge between the oppressors and the oppressed, so that they pervert judgment, and side with the oppressors. He does this, since he permits it to be done. Corrupt judges are among the perennial curses of the East. If not, where, and who is he? rather, If it be not he who then is it? (see the Revised Version). Job argues that the established condition of things in human society must be ascribed to God, since (at least) he allows it. There is no one else to whom it can be ascribed.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The earth
אֶ֤רֶץ ׀ (’e·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

is given
נִתְּנָ֬ה (nit·tə·nāh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

into the hand
בְֽיַד־ (ḇə·yaḏ-)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

of the wicked;
רָשָׁ֗ע (rā·šā‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person

He blindfolds
פְּנֵֽי־ (pə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

its judges.
שֹׁפְטֶ֥יהָ (šō·p̄ə·ṭe·hā)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

If
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

it is not [He],
לֹ֖א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

then
אֵפ֣וֹא (’ê·p̄ō·w)
Conjunction
Strong's 645: Here, now, then

who
מִי־ (mî-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

[is] it?
הֽוּא׃ (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are


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OT Poetry: Job 9:24 The earth is given into the hand (Jb)
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