1: Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do
they that know him not see his days? |
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2: Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks,
and feed thereof. |
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3:
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the
widow's ox for a pledge. |
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4: They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide
themselves together. |
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5: Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their
work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them
and for their children. |
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6: They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the
vintage of the wicked. |
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7: They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have
no covering in the cold. |
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8: They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace
the rock for want of a shelter. |
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9: They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge
of the poor. |
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10: They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take
away the sheaf from the hungry; |
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11: Which make oil within their walls, and tread their
winepresses, and suffer thirst. |
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12: Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded
crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them. |
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13: They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not
the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof. |
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14: The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and
needy, and in the night is as a thief. |
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15: The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight,
saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face. |
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16: In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked
for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light. |
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17: For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if
one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death. |
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18: He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the
earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards. |
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19: Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave
those which have sinned. |
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20: The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on
him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a
tree. |
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21: He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not
good to the widow. |
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22: He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and
no man is sure of life. |
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23: Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth;
yet his eyes are upon their ways. |
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24: They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought
low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops
of the ears of corn. |
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25: And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my
speech nothing worth? |