Their liquorgone,They playthe harlotcontinually;Their rulersdearlyloveshame.
Now it was about threemonthslater that Judahwas informed,"Your daughter-in-lawTamarhas playedthe harlot,and behold,she is alsowith childby harlotry."Then Judahsaid,"Bringher out and let her be burned!"
The princesof the peoplehave assembledthemselves [as] the peopleof the Godof Abraham,For the shieldsof the earthbelong to God;He is highlyexalted.
"You shall not takea bribe,for a bribeblindsthe clear-sightedand subvertsthe causeof the just.
"Yet I plantedyou a choicevine,A completelyfaithfulseed.Howthen have you turnedyourself before Me Into the degenerateshoots of a foreignvine?
"But you trustedin your beautyand playedthe harlotbecauseof your fame,and you pouredout your harlotrieson everypasser-bywho might be [willing].
They will eat,but not haveenough;They will playthe harlot,but not increase,Becausethey have stoppedgivingheedto the LORD.
[There is] swearing,deception,murder,stealingand adultery.They employviolence,so that bloodshedfollowsbloodshed.
I foundIsraellike grapesin the wilderness;I sawyour forefathersas the earliestfruiton the figtreein its first[season]. [But] they cameto Baal-peorand devotedthemselves to shame,And they becameas detestableas that whichthey loved.
For I knowyour transgressionsare manyand your sinsare great,[You] who distressthe righteous[and] acceptbribesAnd turnasidethe poorin the gate.
Her leaderspronouncejudgmentfor a bribe,Her priestsinstructfor a priceAnd her prophetsdivinefor money.Yet they leanon the LORDsaying,"Is not the LORDin our midst?Calamitywill not comeupon us."
Concerningevil,both handsdoit well.The princeasks,also the judge,for a bribe,And a greatmanspeaksthe desireof his soul;So they weaveit together.
"You shall not distortjustice;you shall not be partial,and you shall not takea bribe,for a bribeblindsthe eyesof the wiseand pervertsthe wordsof the righteous.
His sons,however, did not walkin his ways,but turnedasideafterdishonestgainand tookbribesand pervertedjustice.
