Study Desk

"Why are times not stored up by the Almighty, And why do those who know Him not see His days?

Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?

"People remove landmarks; They seize and devour flocks.

Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof.

"They drive away the donkeys of orphans; They seize the widow's ox as a pledge.

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

"They push the needy aside from the road; The poor of the land have to hide themselves together.

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

"Behold, like wild donkeys in the wilderness They go out scavenging for food in their activity, As bread for their children in the desert.

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.

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

They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked.

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

They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.

"They are wet from the mountain rains, And they hug the rock for lack of a shelter.

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

"Others snatch an orphan from the breast, And they seize it as a pledge against the poor.

They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.

"The poor move about naked without clothing, And they carry sheaves, while going hungry.

They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;

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

Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.

"From the city people groan, And the souls of the wounded cry for help; Yet God does not pay attention to the offensiveness.

Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.