1 W herefore from the Mighty One Times have not been hidden, And those knowing Him have not seen His days.

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

2 T he borders they reach, A drove they have taken violently away, Yea, they do evil.

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

3 T he ass of the fatherless they lead away, They take in pledge the ox of the widow,

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

4 T hey turn aside the needy from the way, Together have hid the poor of the earth.

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

5 L o, wild asses in a wilderness, They have gone out about their work, Seeking early for prey, A mixture for himself -- food for young ones.

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

6 I n a field his provender they reap, And the vineyard of the wicked they glean.

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

7 T he naked they cause to lodge Without clothing. And there is no covering in the cold.

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

8 F rom the inundation of hills they are wet, And without a refuge -- have embraced a rock.

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

9 T hey take violently away From the breast the orphan, And on the poor they lay a pledge.

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

10 N aked, they have gone without clothing, And hungry -- have taken away a sheaf.

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

11 B etween their walls they make oil, Wine-presses they have trodden, and thirst.

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

12 B ecause of enmity men do groan, And the soul of pierced ones doth cry, And God doth not give praise.

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

13 T hey have been among rebellious ones of light, They have not discerned His ways, Nor abode in His 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 A t the light doth the murderer rise, He doth slay the poor and needy, And in the night he is as a thief.

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

15 A nd the eye of an adulterer Hath observed the twilight, Saying, `No eye doth behold me.' And he putteth the face in secret.

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

16 H e hath dug in the darkness -- houses; By day they shut themselves up, They have not known light.

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

17 W hen together, morning to them death shade, When he discerneth the terrors of death shade.

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

18 L ight he on the face of the waters, Vilified is their portion in the earth, He turneth not the way of vineyards.

“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 rought -- also heat -- consume snow-waters, Sheol have sinned.

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

20 F orget him doth the womb, Sweeten him doth the worm, No more is he remembered, And broken as a tree is wickedness.

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

21 T reating evil the barren beareth not, And the widow he doth no good,

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

22 A nd hath drawn the mighty by his power, He riseth, and none believeth in life.

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

23 H e giveth to him confidence, and he is supported, And his eyes on their ways.

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

24 H igh they were a little, and they are not, And they have been brought low. As all they are shut up, And as the head of an ear of corn cut off.

“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 A nd if not now, who doth prove me a liar, And doth make of nothing my word?

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