1Why are not times [of punishment] treasured up by the Almighty, and why do his adorers not see his days [of retribution]?

2[The wicked] remove landmarks: they rob flocks, and feed them.

3They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take in pledge the widow's ox.

4They chase the needy out of the highway: altogether hide themselves the poor of the earth.

5Behold, as wild asses in the wilderness go they forth to their work, rising betimes after [their] prey: the desert yieldeth food for them and for their young men.

6In the field they reap their food; and in the vineyard of the wicked they gather the fruit.

7They cause [the poor] to spend the night naked, without clothing and without any covering in the cold.

8Through the sweeping rain of the mountains are they made wet, and for want of a shelter do they embrace the rock.

9The others pluck from the breast the fatherless, and the garment of the poor they take in pledge.

10They cause him to go naked without clothing, and from the hungry they take away the sheaf:

11Within their walls do they make oil, they tread their wine-presses, and suffer thirst.

12Out of a populous city is groaning heard, and the soul of the deadly wounded crieth out: yet God regardeth it not as an offence.

13Yon men are of those that rebel against the light: they know not its ways, nor abide in its paths.

14With the earliest light riseth the murderer, he slayeth the poor and needy, and in the night he becometh like the thief.

15And the eye of the adulterer watcheth for the twilight, saying, No eye will see me; and placeth a covering on his face.

16They break into houses in the dark, in the daytime they lock themselves in: they know not the light.

17For to all of these alike is the morning as the shadow of death; for they are familiar with the terrors of the shadow of death.

18Swift are such men [to flee] on the face of the water; accursed is their field on the land; none of them turneth himself to the way, of the vineyards.

19Drought and heat speedily consume the snow-waters: so doth the grave those who have sinned.

20The mother that bore such a one will forget him; the worm will feed sweetly on him; he will be no more remembered; and like a tree will wickedness be broken.

21He ill-treateth the barren that heareth not; and to the widow he acteth not well.

22But he also draweth down the mighty with his power: he riseth up, no one is sure of life.

23To such [God] granteth to be in safety, that he may find support; and His eyes are upon their ways.

24They are exalted; in but a little while they are no more; and they are brought down low: like all others are they gathered in, and like the top of the ear of corn are they cut off.

25But if it be not so, who will prove me a liar, and render nought my word?