Third Millennium Bible TMB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 "Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know Him not, see His days?
1 "Why doesn't the Almighty set aside times [for punishment]? Why don't those who are close to him see his days [of judgment]?
2 Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks and feed thereof.
2 "[People] move boundary markers. They steal flocks and tend them as shepherds.
3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless; they take the widow's ox as a pledge.
3 They drive away the orphan's donkey. They take the widow's ox as security for a loan.
4 They turn the needy out of the way; the poor of the earth hide themselves together.
4 They force needy people off the road. All the poor people of the country go into hiding.
5 Behold, as wild asses in the desert go they forth to their work, rising early for a prey; the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children.
5 Like wild donkeys in the desert, poor people go out to do their work, looking for food. The plains provide food for their children.
6 They reap every one his corn in the field, and they gather the vintage of the wicked.
6 They harvest animal food in the field [to feed themselves]. They pick the leftover grapes in the wicked person's vineyard.
7 They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.
7 All night they lie naked without a covering from the cold.
8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
8 They are drenched by the rainstorms in the mountains. They hug the rocks because they can't find shelter.
9 They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge from the poor.
9 "[People] snatch the [nursing] orphan from a breast and take a poor woman's baby as security for a loan.
10 They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry,
10 [That is why] the poor go around naked. They are hungry, yet they carry bundles of grain.
11 who make oil within their walls, and tread their wine presses, and suffer thirst.
11 They press out olive oil between rows [of olive trees]. They stomp on grapes in wine vats, yet they are thirsty.
12 Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out; yet God layeth not folly to them.
12 Those dying in the city groan. Wounded people cry for help, but God pays no attention to their prayers.
13 "They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
13 "Such people are among those who rebel against the light. They are not acquainted with its ways. They do not stay on its paths.
14 The murderer, rising with the light, killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.
14 At dawn murderers rise; they kill the poor and needy. At night they become thieves.
15 The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, `No eye shall see me,' and disguiseth his face.
15 Adulterers watch for twilight. They say, 'No one is watching us,' as they cover their faces.
16 In the dark they dig through houses which they had marked for themselves in the daytime; they know not the light.
16 In the dark, they break into houses, [but] by day they lock themselves in. They do not [even] know 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.
17 because morning and deep darkness are the same to them, because they are familiar with the terrors of deep darkness.
18 "He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed on the earth; he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.
18 Such people are like scum on the surface of the water. Their property is cursed in the land. People do not travel the road that goes to their vineyards.
19 Drought and heat consume the snow waters; so doth the grave those who have sinned.
19 [Just as] drought and heat steal water from snow, so the grave steals people who sin.
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.
20 The womb forgets them. Worms feast on them. No one remembers them anymore, and wickedness is snapped like a twig.
21 He evilly treateth the barren that beareth not, and doeth not good to the widow.
21 These men take advantage of childless women. These men show no kindness to widows.
22 He draweth also the mighty with his power; he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.
22 [God] will drag away [these] mighty men by his power. These people may prosper, but they will never feel secure about life.
23 Though it be given him to be in safety whereon he resteth, yet his eyes are upon their ways.
23 [God] may let them feel confident and self-reliant, but his eyes are on 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 others, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.
24 [Such people] may be prosperous for a little while, but then they're gone. They are brought down low and disappear like everything else. They wither like heads of grain.
25 And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar and make my speech worth nothing?"
25 "If it isn't so, who can prove I'm a liar and show that my words are worthless?"
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.