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