Whydo You makeme seeiniquity,And cause [me] to lookon wickedness?Yes, destructionand violenceare beforeme; Strifeexistsand contentionarises.
Then I lookedagainat allthe actsof oppressionwhichwere being doneunderthe sun.And behold[I saw] the tearsof the oppressedand [that] they hadnooneto comfort[them]; and on the sideof their oppressorswas power,but they hadnooneto comfort[them].
Ifyou seeoppressionof the poorand denialof justiceand righteousnessin the province,do not be shockedat the sight;for one officialwatchesoveranother official,and there are higherofficialsoverthem.
"Listento Me, you stubborn-minded,Who are farfrom righteousness.
For the vineyardof the LORDof hostsis the houseof IsraelAnd the menof JudahHis delightfulplant.Thus He lookedfor justice,but behold,bloodshed;For righteousness,but behold,a cryof distress.
Woeto me, my mother,that you have borneme [As] a manof strifeand a manof contentionto allthe land!I have not lent,norhave men lentmoney to me, [Yet] everyonecursesme.
Whydid I evercomeforthfrom the wombTo lookon troubleand sorrow,So that my dayshave beenspentin shame?
For eachtimeI speak,I cryaloud;I proclaimviolenceand destruction,Becausefor me the wordof the LORDhas resultedIn reproachand derisionalldaylong.
"And you, sonof man,neitherfearthem norfeartheir words,thoughthistlesand thornsare with you and you siton scorpions;neitherfeartheir wordsnorbe dismayedat their presence,for they are a rebellioushouse.
"Behold,I sendyou out as sheepin the midstof wolves;sobe shrewdas serpentsand innocentas doves.
(for by what he sawand heard[that] righteousman,while livingamongthem, felt[his] righteoussoultormenteddayafterdayby [their] lawlessdeeds),
