Study Desk

"^(a)Why are ^[a]times not stored up by the Almighty, And why do those who know Him not see ^(b)His days?

"^[b]Some ^(c)remove the landmarks; They seize and ^[c]devour flocks.

"They drive away the donkeys of the ^(d)orphans; They take the ^(e)widow's ox for a pledge.

"They push ^(f)the needy aside from the road; The ^(g)poor of the land are made to hide themselves altogether.

"Behold, as ^(h)wild donkeys in the wilderness They ⁽ⁱ⁾go forth seeking food in their activity, As ^[d]bread for their children in the desert.

"They harvest their fodder in the field And glean the vineyard of the wicked.

"^(j)They spend the night naked, without clothing, And have no covering against the cold.

"They are wet with the mountain rains And hug the rock for want of a shelter.

"^[e]Others snatch the ^(k)orphan from the breast, And against the poor they take a pledge.

"They cause the poor to go about naked without clothing, And they take away the sheaves from the hungry.

"Within the walls they produce oil; They tread wine presses but thirst.

"From the city men groan, And the souls of the wounded cry out; Yet God ^(l)does not pay attention to folly.

"^[f]Others have been with those who rebel against the light; They do not want to know its ways Nor abide in its paths.

"The murderer ^(m)arises at dawn; He ⁽ⁿ⁾kills the poor and the needy, And at night he is as a thief.

"The eye of the ^(o)adulterer waits for the twilight, Saying, ‘No eye will see me.' And he ^[g]disguises his face.

"In the dark they ^(p)dig into houses, They ^(q)shut themselves up by day; They do not know the light.