1 “ Why are times for judging not set up by the All-powerful? And why do those who know Him not see these days?

2 S ome take away the land-marks and take fields and animals.

3 T hey drive away the donkeys that belong to those who have no parents. They take the bull that belongs to a woman whose husband has died, as a promise that she will pay what she owes.

4 T hey push poor people off the road. All the poor of the land are made to hide themselves.

5 S ee, they go out like wild donkeys in the desert to look for food for their children.

6 T hey gather food in the fields, and gather what they can that is left from the grape-fields owned by the sinful.

7 T hey lie all night without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.

8 T hey are wet with the mountain rains and stay close to the rocks for cover.

9 O thers take from the breast the child who has no father. They take the child from the poor as a promise that they will pay what they owe.

10 T hey make the poor go about without clothing, making them carry loads of cut grain while they are hungry.

11 A mong the olive trees they make oil. They crush grapes but they are thirsty.

12 M en from the city cry inside themselves. The souls of those who are hurt cry out. Yet God does not listen to their prayer.

13 “ Then there are those who turn against the light. They do not want to know its ways or stay in its paths.

14 T he one who kills people gets up early in the morning. He kills the poor and those in need. And during the night he is like a robber.

15 T he eye of the one who is not faithful in marriage waits for the evening, saying, ‘No one will see me.’ And he covers his face.

16 I n the dark they dig into houses. They shut themselves up during the day and do not know the light.

17 F or midnight is morning to them. They are not afraid of the fears of darkness.

18 “ They are taken away on the top of the waters. Their part of the earth is cursed. They do not go to their grape-fields.

19 D ry weather and heat take away the water from the snow, just as the place of the dead takes away those who have sinned.

20 A mother will forget him. The worm is pleased to eat him until he is remembered no more. Sin will be broken like a tree.

21 H e does wrong to the woman who cannot give birth. And he does no good for the woman whose husband has died.

22 B ut God by His power gives long life to the strong. They rise again, even when they had no hope of life.

23 H e makes them safe and gives them strength, and His eyes are on their ways.

24 T hey are given honor for a little while, and then they are gone. They are brought low and gathered up as all others are. They are cut off like the heads of grain.

25 I f it is not so, who can prove me a liar, and show that what I say means nothing?”