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 feed1 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 corn2 in the field: and they gather3 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 disguiseth4 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 consume5 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 no6 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 gone7 and brought low; they are taken8 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?
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