Chapter 24

  Why are times not stored up by the Ruler of all, and why do those who have knowledge of him not see his days?  

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  The landmarks are changed by evil men, they violently take away flocks, together with their keepers.  

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  They send away the ass of him who has no father, they take the widow's ox for debt.  

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  The crushed are turned out of the way; all the poor of the earth go into a secret place together.  

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  Like asses in the waste land they go out to their work, looking for food with care; from the waste land they get bread for their children.  

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  They get mixed grain from the field, and they take away the late fruit from the vines of those who have wealth.  

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  They take their rest at night without clothing, and have no cover in the cold.  

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  They are wet with the rain of the mountains, and get into the cracks of the rock for cover.  

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  The child without a father is forced from its mother's breast, and they take the young children of the poor for debt.  

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  Others go about without clothing, and though they have no food, they get in the grain from the fields.  

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  Between the lines of olive-trees they make oil; though they have no drink, they are crushing out the grapes.  

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  From the town come sounds of pain from those who are near death, and the soul of the wounded is crying out for help; but God does not take note of their prayer.  

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  Then there are those who are haters of the light, who have no knowledge of its ways, and do not go in them.  

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  He who is purposing death gets up before day, so that he may put to death the poor and those in need.  

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  And the man whose desire is for the wife of another is waiting for the evening, saying, No eye will see me; and he puts a cover on his face. And in the night the thief goes about;  

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  In the dark he makes holes in the walls of houses: in the daytime they are shutting themselves up, they have no knowledge of the light.  

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  For the middle of the night is as morning to them, they are not troubled by the fear of the dark.  

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  They go quickly on the face of the waters; their heritage is cursed in the earth; the steps of the crusher of grapes are not turned to their vine-garden.  

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  Snow waters become dry with the heat: so do sinners go down into the underworld.  

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  The public place of his town has no more knowledge of him, and his name has gone from the memory of men: he is rooted up like a dead tree.  

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  He is not kind to the widow, and he has no pity for her child.  

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  But God by his power gives long life to the strong; he gets up again, though he has no hope of life.  

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  He takes away his fear of danger and gives him support; and his eyes are on his ways.  

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  For a short time they are lifted up; then they are gone; they are made low, they are pulled off like fruit, and like the heads of grain they are cut off.  

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  And if it is not so, now, who will make it clear that my words are false, and that what I say is of no value?  

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