[1] "Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty, and why do those
who know him never see his days? [2] Men remove landmarks; they seize
flocks and pasture them. [3] They drive away the ass of the fatherless;
they take the widow's ox for a pledge. [4] They thrust the poor off the
road; the poor of the earth all hide themselves. [5] Behold, like wild
asses in the desert they go forth to their toil, seeking prey in the
wilderness as food for their children. [6] They gather their fodder in the
field and they glean the vineyard of the wicked man. [7] They lie all night
naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold. [8] They are wet
with the rain of the mountains, and cling to the rock for want of shelter.
[9] (There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast, and
take in pledge the infant of the poor.) [10] They go about naked, without
clothing; hungry, they carry the sheaves; [11] among the olive rows of the
wicked they make oil; they tread the wine presses, but suffer thirst. [12]
From out of the city the dying groan, and the soul of the wounded cries for
help; yet God pays no attention to their prayer. [13] "There are those who
rebel against the light, who are not acquainted with its ways, and do not
stay in its paths. [14] The murderer rises in the dark, that he may kill
the poor and needy; and in the night he is as a thief. [15] The eye of the
adulterer also waits for the twilight, saying, `No eye will see me'; and he
disguises his face. [16] In the dark they dig through houses; by day they
shut themselves up; they do not know the light. [17] For deep darkness is
morning to all of them; for they are friends with the terrors of deep
darkness. [18] "You say, "They are swiftly carried away upon the face of
the waters; their portion is cursed in the land; no treader turns toward
their vineyards. [19] Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters; so does
Sheol those who have sinned. [20] The squares of the town forget them;
their name is no longer remembered; so wickedness is broken like a tree.'
[21] "They feed on the barren childless woman, and do no good to the widow.
[22] Yet God prolongs the life of the mighty by his power; they rise up
when they despair of life. [23] He gives them security, and they are
supported; and his eyes are upon their ways. [24] They are exalted a little
while, and then are gone; they wither and fade like the mallow; they are
cut off like the heads of grain. [25] If it is not so, who will prove me a
liar, and show that there is nothing in what I say?"