| 章 |
| 24:1 |
"Why are times not kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see his days?
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| 24:2 |
The wicked remove landmarks; they seize flocks and pasture them.
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| 24:3 |
They drive away the donkey of the orphan; they take the widow's ox for a pledge.
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| 24:4 |
They thrust the needy off the road; the poor of the earth all hide themselves.
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| 24:5 |
Like wild asses in the desert they go out to their toil, scavenging in the wasteland food for their young.
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| 24:6 |
They reap in a field not their own and they glean in the vineyard of the wicked.
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| 24:7 |
They lie all night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.
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| 24:8 |
They are wet with the rain of the mountains, and cling to the rock for want of shelter.
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| 24:9 |
"There are those who snatch the orphan child from the breast, and take as a pledge the infant of the poor.
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| 24:10 |
They go about naked, without clothing; though hungry, they carry the sheaves;
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| 24:11 |
between their terraces they press out oil; they tread the wine presses, but suffer thirst.
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| 24:12 |
From the city the dying groan, and the throat of the wounded cries for help; yet God pays no attention to their prayer.
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| 24:13 |
"There are those who rebel against the light, who are not acquainted with its ways, and do not stay in its paths.
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| 24:14 |
The murderer rises at dusk to kill the poor and needy, and in the night is like a thief.
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| 24:15 |
The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight, saying, 'No eye will see me'; and he disguises his face.
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| 24:16 |
In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves up; they do not know the light.
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| 24:17 |
For deep darkness is morning to all of them; for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness.
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| 24:18 |
"Swift are they on the face of the waters; their portion in the land is cursed; no treader turns toward their vineyards.
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| 24:19 |
Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters; so does Sheol those who have sinned.
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| 24:20 |
The womb forgets them; the worm finds them sweet; they are no longer remembered; so wickedness is broken like a tree.
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| 24:21 |
"They harm the childless woman, and do no good to the widow.
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| 24:22 |
Yet God prolongs the life of the mighty by his power; they rise up when they despair of life.
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| 24:23 |
He gives them security, and they are supported; his eyes are upon their ways.
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| 24:24 |
They are exalted a little while, and then are gone; they wither and fade like the mallow; they are cut off like the heads of grain.
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| 24:25 |
If it is not so, who will prove me a liar, and show that there is nothing in what I say?"
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