24:001

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

24:002

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

24:003

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

24:004

They turn the needy out of the way; the poor of the earth hide themselves together

24:005

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

24:006

They cut his provender in the field; and they despoil the vineyard of the wicked

24:007

They lie all night naked without clothing, and have no covering in the cold

24:008

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

24:009

There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor

24:010

So that they go about naked without clothing, and being hungry they carry the sheaves

24:011

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

24:012

From out of the populous city men groan, and the soul of the wounded crieth out; yet G-d imputeth it not for unseemliness

24:013

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

24:014

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

24:015

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

24:016

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

24:017

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

24:018

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

24:019

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

24:020

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

24:021

He devoureth the barren that beareth not; and doeth not good to the widow

24:022

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

24:023

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

24:024

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

24:025

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