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