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

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

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

Some take away the land-marks and take fields and animals.

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

They 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 turn aside the needy from the way, Together have hid the poor of the earth.

They push poor people off the road. All the poor of the land are made to hide themselves.

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.

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

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

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

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

They lie all night without clothing, and have no covering in 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 stay close to the rocks for cover.

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

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

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

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

Among the olive trees they make oil. They crush grapes but they are thirsty.

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

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

13 T hey have been among rebellious ones of light, They have not discerned His ways, Nor abode in His paths.

“Then there are those who turn against the light. They do not want to know its ways or stay 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 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 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 one who is not faithful in marriage waits for the evening, saying, ‘No one will see me.’ And he covers 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 during the day and do not know the light.

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

For midnight is morning to them. They are not afraid of the fears of 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 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 rought -- also heat -- consume snow-waters, Sheol have sinned.

Dry weather and heat take away the water from the snow, just as the place of the dead takes away 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 is pleased to eat him until he is remembered no more. Sin will be broken like a tree.

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

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

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

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

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

He makes them safe and gives them strength, 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 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 A nd if not now, who doth prove me a liar, And doth make of nothing my word?

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