24
1 Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days? 2 Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof.*feed…: or, feed them 3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow’s ox for a pledge. 4 They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together. 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. 6 They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked.†corn: Heb. mingled corn, or, dredge‡they gather…: Heb. the wicked gather the vintage 7 They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold. 8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter. 9 They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor. 10 They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry; 11 Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst. 12 Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.
13 They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof. 14 The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief. 15 The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face.§disguiseth…: Heb. setteth his face in secret 16 In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light. 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.
18 He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards. 19 Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned.**consume: Heb. violently take 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. 21 He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow. 22 He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.††no…: or, he trusteth not his own life 23 Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways. 24 They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.‡‡are gone: Heb. are not§§taken…: Heb. closed up 25 And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?
*24:2 feed…: or, feed them
†24:6 corn: Heb. mingled corn, or, dredge
‡24:6 they gather…: Heb. the wicked gather the vintage
§24:15 disguiseth…: Heb. setteth his face in secret
**24:19 consume: Heb. violently take
††24:22 no…: or, he trusteth not his own life
‡‡24:24 are gone: Heb. are not
§§24:24 taken…: Heb. closed up
You may copy the King James Version of the Holy Bible freely. If you find a typo that is not just an archaic spelling, please report it.