- 1
- Howe should not the times be hid from the Almightie, seeing that they which knowe him, see not his dayes?
- 2
- Some remoue the land marks, that rob the flockes and feede thereof.
- 3
- They leade away the asse of the fatherles: and take the widowes oxe to pledge.
- 4
- They make the poore to turne out of the way, so that the poore of the earth hide themselues together.
- 5
- Behold, others as wilde asses in the wildernesse, goe forth to their businesse, and rise early for a praye: the wildernesse giueth him and his children foode.
- 6
- They reape his prouision in the fielde, but they gather the late vintage of the wicked.
- 7
- They cause the naked to lodge without garment, and without couering in the colde.
- 8
- They are wet with the showres of the moutaines, and they imbrace the rocke for want of a couering.
- 9
- They plucke the fatherles from the breast, and take the pledge of the poore.
- 10
- They cause him to go naked without clothing, and take the glening from the hungrie.
- 11
- They that make oyle betweene their walles, and treade their wine presses, suffer thirst.
- 12
- Men cry out of the citie, and the soules of the slayne cry out: yet God doth not charge them with follie.
- 13
- These are they, that abhorre the light: they know not the wayes thereof, nor continue in the paths thereof.
- 14
- The murtherer riseth earely & killeth the poore and the needie: and in the night he is as a theefe.
- 15
- The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, and sayth, None eye shal see me, and disguiseth his face.
- 16
- They digge through houses in the darke, which they marked for themselues in the daye: they knowe not the light.
- 17
- But the morning is euen to them as the shadow of death: if one knowe them, they are in the terrours of the shadowe of death.
- 18
- He is swift vpon the waters: their portion shalbe cursed in the earth: he will not behold the way of the vineyardes.
- 19
- As the dry ground and heate consume the snowe waters, so shall the graue the sinners.
- 20
- The pitifull man shall forget him: the worme shal feele his sweetenes: he shalbe no more remebred, & the wicked shalbe broke like a tree.
- 21
- He doth euil intreat ye barren, that doeth not beare, neither doeth he good to the widowe.
- 22
- He draweth also the mighty by his power, and when he riseth vp, none is sure of life.
- 23
- Though men giue him assurance to be in safetie, yet his eyes are vpon their wayes.
- 24
- They are exalted for a litle, but they are gone, and are brought lowe as all others: they are destroyed, and cut off as the toppe of an eare of corne.
- 25
- But if it be not so, where is he?
or who wil proue me a lyer, & make my words of no value?
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