^1. «WHY are [1] times not stored up by the Almighty, And why do those who know Him not see His days?

^2. « [3] Some remove the landmarks; They seize and [2] devour flocks.

^3. «They drive away the donkeys of the orphans; They take the widow's ox for a pledge.

^4. «They push the needy aside from the road; The poor of the land are made to hide themselves altogether.

^5. «Behold, as wild donkeys in the wilderness They go forth seeking food in their activity, As [4] bread for their children in the desert.

^6. «They harvest their fodder in the field And glean the vineyard of the wicked.

^7. « They spend the night naked, without clothing, And have no covering against the cold.

^8. «They are wet with the mountain rains And hug the rock for want of a shelter.

^9. « [5] Others snatch the orphan from the breast, And against the poor they take a pledge.

^10. «They cause the poor to go about naked without clothing, And they take away the sheaves from the hungry.

^11. «Within the walls they produce oil; They tread wine presses but thirst.

^12. «From the city men groan, And the souls of the wounded cry out; Yet God does not pay attention to folly.

^13. « [6] Others have been with those who rebel against the light; They do not want to know its ways Nor abide in its paths.

^14. «The murderer arises at dawn; He kills the poor and the needy, And at night he is as a thief.

^15. «The eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight, Saying, "No eye will see me.' And he [7] disguises his face.

^16. «In the dark they dig into houses, They shut themselves up by day; They do not know the light.

^17. «For the morning is the same to him as thick darkness, For he is familiar with the terrors of thick darkness.

^18. «They are [9] insignificant on the surface of the water; Their portion is cursed on the earth. They do not turn [8] toward the vineyards.

^19. «Drought and heat [11] consume the snow waters, So does [10] Sheol those who have sinned.

^20. «A [12] mother will forget him; The worm feeds sweetly till he is no longer remembered. And wickedness will be broken like a tree.

^21. «He wrongs the [13] barren woman And does no good for the widow.

^22. «But He drags off the valiant by His power; He rises, but no one has assurance of life.

^23. «He provides them with security, and they are supported; And His eyes are on their ways.

^24. «They are exalted a little while, then they are gone; Moreover, they are brought low and like everything gathered up; Even like the heads of grain they are cut off.

^25. «Now if it is not so, who can prove me a liar, And make my speech worthless?»