Chapter 24

Why, seeing times are not hidden⁸ from the Almighty, do they that know⁶ him not see¹ his days?

[Some] remove⁵⁵ the landmarks; they violently take away¹ flocks, and feed⁴ [thereof].

They drive away⁴ the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge.⁴

They turn⁵⁵ the needy out of the way: the poor ⁶⁰³⁵ of the earth hide²⁷ themselves together.

Behold, [as] wild asses in the desert, go they forth¹ to their work; rising betimes¹⁸ for a prey: the wilderness [yieldeth] food for them [and] for [their] children.

They reap^{4 7114 55} [every one] his corn in the field: and they gather¹⁷ the vintage of the wicked.

They cause the naked to lodge⁵⁵ without clothing, that [they have] no covering in the cold.

They are wet⁴ with the showers of the mountains, and embrace¹⁴ the rock for want of a shelter.

They pluck⁴ the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge⁴ of the poor.

They cause [him] to go¹⁴ naked without clothing, and they take away¹ the sheaf [from] the hungry;

[Which] make oil⁵⁵ within their walls, [and] tread¹ [their] winepresses, and suffer thirst.⁴

Men groan⁴ from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out:¹⁷ yet God layeth⁴ not folly [to them].

They are of those that rebel⁶ against the light; they know⁵² not the ways thereof, nor abide¹ in the paths thereof.

The murderer⁶ rising⁴ with the light killeth⁴ the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.

The eye also of the adulterer⁶ waiteth¹ for the twilight, saying,² No eye shall see⁴ me: and disguiseth ^{7760 4} [his] face.

In the dark they dig through¹ houses, [which] they had marked¹⁴ for themselves in the daytime: they know¹ not the light.

For the morning [is] to them even as the shadow of death: if [one] know⁵⁵ [them, they are in] the terrors of the shadow of death.

He [is] swift as the waters; their portion is cursed²⁹ in the earth: he beholdeth⁴ not the way of the vineyards.

Drought and heat consume⁴ the snow waters: [so doth] the grave [those which] have sinned.¹

The womb shall forget⁴ him; the worm shall feed sweetly¹ on him; he shall be no more remembered;¹¹ and wickedness shall be broken¹¹ as a tree.

He evil entreateth⁶ the barren [that] beareth⁴ not: and doeth not good⁵⁵ to the widow.

He draweth¹ also the mighty with his power: he riseth up,⁴ and no [man] is sure⁵⁵ of life.

[Though] it be given⁴ him [to be] in safety, whereon he resteth;¹¹ yet his eyes [are] upon their ways.

They are exalted¹ for a little while, but are gone and brought low;⁹⁰ they are taken out of the way¹¹ as all [other], and cut off⁴ as the tops of the ears of corn.

And if [it be] not [so] now, who will make me a liar,⁵⁵ and make⁴ my speech nothing worth?