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[1] Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? And why do not they that know Him see His days?
[2] There are that remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed them.
[3] They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge.
[4] They turn the needy out of the way; the poor of the earth hide themselves together.
[5] Behold, as wild asses in the wilderness they go forth to their work, seeking diligently for food; the desert yieldeth them bread for their children.
[6] They cut his provender in the field; and they despoil the vineyard of the wicked.
[7] They lie all night naked without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.
[8] They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
[9] There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor;
[10] So that they go about naked without clothing, and being hungry they carry the sheaves;
[11] They make oil within the rows of these men; they tread thei winepresses, and suffer thirst.
[12] From out of the populous city men groan, and the soul of the wounded crieth out; yet God imputeth it not for unseemliness.
[13] These are of them that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
[14] The murderer riseth with the light, to kill the poor and needy; and in the night he is as a thief.
[15] The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying: 'No eye shall see me'; and he putteth a covering on his face.
[16] In the dark they dig through houses; they shut themselves up in the day-time; they know not the light.
[17] For the shadow of death is to all of them as the morning; for they know the terrors of the shadow of death.
[18] He is swift upon the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth; he turneth not by the way of the vineyards.
[19] Drought and heat consume the snow waters; so doth the nether-world those that have sinned.
[20] The womb forgetteth him; the worm feedeth sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and unrighteousness is broken as a tree.
[21] He devoureth the barren that beareth not; and doeth not good to the widow.
[22] He draweth away the mighty also by his power; he riseth up, and he trusteth not his own life.
[23] Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth, yet His eyes are upon their ways.
[24] They are exalted for a little while, and they are gone; yea, they are brought low, they are gathered in as all others, and wither as the tops of the ears of corn.
[25] And if it be not so now, who will prove me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?
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