| Chapter 24 |
1 | Wherefore from the Mighty One Times have not been hidden, And those knowing Him have not seen His days. |
2 | The borders they reach, A drove they have taken violently away, Yea, they do evil. |
3 | The ass of the fatherless they lead away, They take in pledge the ox of the widow, |
4 | They turn aside the needy from the way, Together have hid the poor of the earth. |
5 | Lo, wild asses in a wilderness, They have gone out about their work, Seeking early for prey, A mixture for himself -- food for young ones. |
6 | In a field his provender they reap, And the vineyard of the wicked they glean. |
7 | The naked they cause to lodge Without clothing. And there is no covering in the cold. |
8 | From the inundation of hills they are wet, And without a refuge -- have embraced a rock. |
9 | They take violently away From the breast the orphan, And on the poor they lay a pledge. |
10 | Naked, they have gone without clothing, And hungry -- have taken away a sheaf. |
11 | Between their walls they make oil, Wine-presses they have trodden, and thirst. |
12 | Because of enmity men do groan, And the soul of pierced ones doth cry, And God doth not give praise. |
13 | They have been among rebellious ones of light, They have not discerned His ways, Nor abode in His paths. |
14 | At the light doth the murderer rise, He doth slay the poor and needy, And in the night he is as a thief. |
15 | And the eye of an adulterer Hath observed the twilight, Saying, 'No eye doth behold me.' And he putteth the face in secret. |
16 | He hath dug in the darkness -- houses; By day they shut themselves up, They have not known light. |
17 | When together, morning [is] to them death shade, When he discerneth the terrors of death shade. |
18 | Light he [is] on the face of the waters, Vilified is their portion in the earth, He turneth not the way of vineyards. |
19 | Drought -- also heat -- consume snow-waters, Sheol [those who] have sinned. |
20 | Forget him doth the womb, Sweeten [on] him doth the worm, No more is he remembered, And broken as a tree is wickedness. |
21 | Treating evil the barren [who] beareth not, And [to] the widow he doth no good, |
22 | And hath drawn the mighty by his power, He riseth, and none believeth in life. |
23 | He giveth to him confidence, and he is supported, And his eyes [are] on their ways. |
24 | High they were [for] a little, and they are not, And they have been brought low. As all [others] they are shut up, And as the head of an ear of corn cut off. |
25 | And if not now, who doth prove me a liar, And doth make of nothing my word? |