24:1 "Why are times not stored up by the Almighty, And why do those who know Him not see His days? |
24:2 "Some remove the landmarks; They seize and devour flocks. |
24:3 "They drive away the donkeys of the orphans; They take the widow's ox for a pledge. |
24:4 "They push the needy aside from the road; The poor of the land are made to hide themselves altogether. |
24:5 "Behold, as wild donkeys in the wilderness They go forth seeking food in their activity, As bread for {their} children in the desert. |
24:6 "They harvest their fodder in the field And glean the vineyard of the wicked. |
24:7 "They spend the night naked, without clothing, And have no covering against the cold. |
24:8 "They are wet with the mountain rains And hug the rock for want of a shelter. |
24:9 "Others snatch the orphan from the breast, And against the poor they take a pledge. |
24:10 "They cause {the poor} to go about naked without clothing, And they take away the sheaves from the hungry. |
24:11 "Within the walls they produce oil; They tread wine presses but thirst. |
24:12 "From the city men groan, And the souls of the wounded cry out; Yet God does not pay attention to folly. |
24:13 "Others have been with those who rebel against the light; They do not want to know its ways Nor abide in its paths. |
24:14 "The murderer arises at dawn; He kills the poor and the needy, And at night he is as a thief. |
24:15 "The eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight, Saying, `No eye will see me.' And he disguises his face. |
24:16 "In the dark they dig into houses, They shut themselves up by day; They do not know the light. |
24:17 "For the morning is the same to him as thick darkness, For he is familiar with the terrors of thick darkness. |
24:18 "They are insignificant on the surface of the water; Their portion is cursed on the earth. They do not turn toward the vineyards. |
24:19 "Drought and heat consume the snow waters, {So does} Sheol {those who} have sinned. |
24:20 "A mother will forget him; The worm feeds sweetly till he is no longer remembered. And wickedness will be broken like a tree. |
24:21 "He wrongs the barren woman And does no good for the widow. |
24:22 "But He drags off the valiant by His power; He rises, but no one has assurance of life. |
24:23 "He provides them with security, and they are supported; And His eyes are on their ways. |
24:24 "They are exalted a little while, then they are gone; Moreover, they are brought low and like everything gathered up; Even like the heads of grain they are cut off. |
24:25 "Now if it is not so, who can prove me a liar, And make my speech worthless?" |