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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

“Drought and heat consume the snow waters, So does Sheol 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.

“A mother will forget him; The worm feeds sweetly till he is no longer remembered. And wickedness 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.

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

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

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

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

“He provides them with security, and they are supported; 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.

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

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