1
"Why are 1not times of judgment 2kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see his 3days?
2
Some move 4landmarks; they seize flocks and pasture them.
3
They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; they 5take the widow's ox for a pledge.
5
Behold, like wild donkeys in the desert the poora8go out to their toil, 9seeking game; the wasteland yields food for their children.
6
They gather theirb fodder in the field, and they glean the vineyard of the wicked man.
7
They 10lie all night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.
8
They are wet with the rain of the mountains and 11cling to the rock for lack of shelter.
9
(There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast, and they take a pledge against the poor.)
10
They go about naked, without clothing; hungry, they 12carry the sheaves;
11
among the olive rows of the wickedc they make oil; they tread the winepresses, but suffer thirst.
12
From out of the city the dying groan, and the soul of 13the wounded cries for help; yet God charges no one with 14wrong.
13
"There are those who rebel 15against the light, who are not acquainted with its ways, and do not stay in its paths.
14
The murderer rises before it is light, that he 16may kill the poor and needy, and in the night he is like a thief.
15
The eye of the adulterer also waits for 17the twilight, saying, 'No 18eye will see me'; and he veils his face.
16
In the dark they 19dig through houses; by day they shut themselves up; they do not know the light.
17
For 20deep darkness is morning to all of them; for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness.
18
"You say, 21'Swift are they on the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the land; no treader turns toward their vineyards.
19
Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters; so does 22Sheol those who have sinned.
20
The womb forgets them; the worm finds them sweet; they are 23no longer remembered, so wickedness is broken like 24a tree.'
21
"They wrong the barren, childless woman, and do no good to the widow.
22
Yet Godd prolongs the life of the mighty by his power; they rise up when they despair of life.
23
He gives them security, and they are supported, and his 25eyes are upon their ways.
24
They are exalted 26a little while, and then 27are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are 28cut off like the heads of grain.
25
If it is 29not so, who will prove me a liar and show that there is nothing in what I say?"
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)