024:001
Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?
024:002
Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof.
024:003
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge.
024:004
They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.
024:005
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.
024:006
They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked.
024:007
They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.
024:008
They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
024:009
They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.
024:010
They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;
024:011
Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.
024:012
Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.
024:013
They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
024:014
The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.
024:015
The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face.
024:016
In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.
024:017
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.
024:018
He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.
024:019
Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned.
024:020
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.
024:021
He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.
024:022
He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.
024:023
Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways.
024:024
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.
024:025
And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?