1 “ Why are times not stored up by the Almighty, And why do those who know Him not see His days?

2 “ Some remove the landmarks; They seize and devour flocks.

3 “ They drive away the donkeys of the orphans; They take the widow’s ox for a pledge.

4 “ They push the needy aside from the road; The poor of the land are made to hide themselves altogether.

5 “ Behold, as wild donkeys in the wilderness They go forth seeking food in their activity, As bread for their children in the desert.

6 “ They harvest their fodder in the field And glean the vineyard of the wicked.

7 “ They spend the night naked, without clothing, And have no covering against the cold.

8 “ They are wet with the mountain rains And hug the rock for want of a shelter.

9 “ Others snatch the orphan from the breast, And against the poor they take a pledge.

10 “ They cause the poor to go about naked without clothing, And they take away the sheaves from the hungry.

11 “ Within the walls they produce oil; They tread wine presses but thirst.

12 “ From the city men groan, And the souls of the wounded cry out; Yet God does not pay attention to folly.

13 “ Others have been with those who rebel against the light; They do not want to know its ways Nor abide in its paths.

14 “ The murderer arises at dawn; He kills the poor and the needy, And at night he is as a thief.

15 “ The eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight, Saying, ‘No eye will see me.’ And he disguises his face.

16 “ In the dark they dig into houses, They shut themselves up by day; They do not know the light.

17 “ For the morning is the same to him as thick darkness, For he is familiar with the terrors of thick darkness.

18 “ They are insignificant on the surface of the water; Their portion is cursed on the earth. They do not turn toward the vineyards.

19 “ Drought and heat consume the snow waters, So does Sheol those who have sinned.

20 “ A mother will forget him; The worm feeds sweetly till he is no longer remembered. And wickedness will be broken like a tree.

21 “ He wrongs the barren woman And does no good for the widow.

22 “ But He drags off the valiant by His power; He rises, but no one has assurance of life.

23 “ He provides them with security, and they are supported; And His eyes are on their ways.

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.

25 “ Now if it is not so, who can prove me a liar, And make my speech worthless?”