- 1
- Why are times not stored up by the Ruler of all, and why do those who have knowledge of him not see his days?
- 2
- The landmarks are changed by evil men, they violently take away flocks, together with their keepers.
- 3
- They send away the ass of him who has no father, they take the widow's ox for debt.
- 4
- The crushed are turned out of the way;
all the poor of the earth go into a secret place together.
- 5
- Like asses in the waste land they go out to their work, looking for food with care;
from the waste land they get bread for their children.
- 6
- They get mixed grain from the field, and they take away the late fruit from the vines of those who have wealth.
- 7
- They take their rest at night without clothing, and have no cover in the cold.
- 8
- They are wet with the rain of the mountains, and get into the cracks of the rock for cover.
- 9
- The child without a father is forced from its mother's breast, and they take the young children of the poor for debt.
- 10
- Others go about without clothing, and though they have no food, they get in the grain from the fields.
- 11
- Between the lines of olive-trees they make oil;
though they have no drink, they are crushing out the grapes.
- 12
- From the town come sounds of pain from those who are near death, and the soul of the wounded is crying out for help;
but God does not take note of their prayer.
- 13
- Then there are those who are haters of the light, who have no knowledge of its ways, and do not go in them.
- 14
- He who is purposing death gets up before day, so that he may put to death the poor and those in need.
- 15
- And the man whose desire is for the wife of another is waiting for the evening, saying, No eye will see me;
and he puts a cover on his face. And in the night the thief goes about;
- 16
- In the dark he makes holes in the walls of houses: in the daytime they are shutting themselves up, they have no knowledge of the light.
- 17
- For the middle of the night is as morning to them, they are not troubled by the fear of the dark.
- 18
- They go quickly on the face of the waters;
their heritage is cursed in the earth; the steps of the crusher of grapes are not turned to their vine-garden.
- 19
- Snow waters become dry with the heat: so do sinners go down into the underworld.
- 20
- The public place of his town has no more knowledge of him, and his name has gone from the memory of men: he is rooted up like a dead tree.
- 21
- He is not kind to the widow, and he has no pity for her child.
- 22
- But God by his power gives long life to the strong;
he gets up again, though he has no hope of life.
- 23
- He takes away his fear of danger and gives him support;
and his eyes are on his ways.
- 24
- For a short time they are lifted up;
then they are gone; they are made low, they are pulled off like fruit, and like the heads of grain they are cut off.
- 25
- And if it is not so, now, who will make it clear that my words are false, and that what I say is of no value?
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