24:1
Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? And why do not they that know Him see His days?

24:2
There are that remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed them.

24:3
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge.

24:4
They turn the needy out of the way; the poor of the earth hide themselves together.

24:5
Behold, as wild asses in the wilderness they go forth to their work, seeking diligently for food; the desert yieldeth them bread for their children.

24:6
They cut his provender in the field; and they despoil the vineyard of the wicked.

24:7
They lie all night naked without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.

24:8
They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.

24:9
There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor;

24:10
So that they go about naked without clothing, and being hungry they carry the sheaves;

24:11
They make oil within the rows of these men; they tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.

24:12
From out of the populous city men groan, and the soul of the wounded crieth out; yet God imputeth it not for unseemliness.

24:13
These are of them that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.

24:14
The murderer riseth with the light, to kill the poor and needy; and in the night he is as a thief.

24:15
The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying: 'No eye shall see me'; and he putteth a covering on his face.

24:16
In the dark they dig through houses; they shut themselves up in the day-time; they know not the light.

24:17
For the shadow of death is to all of them as the morning; for they know the terrors of the shadow of death.

24:18
He is swift upon the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth; he turneth not by the way of the vineyards.

24:19
Drought and heat consume the snow waters; so doth the nether-world those that have sinned.

24:20
The womb forgetteth him; the worm feedeth sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and unrighteousness is broken as a tree.

24:21
He devoureth the barren that beareth not; and doeth not good to the widow.

24:22
He draweth away the mighty also by his power; he riseth up, and he trusteth not his own life.

24:23
Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth, yet His eyes are upon their ways.

24:24
They are exalted for a little while, and they are gone; yea, they are brought low, they are gathered in as all others, and wither as the tops of the ears of corn.

24:25
And if it be not so now, who will prove me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?