Therefore,hearthe wordof the LORD,O scoffers,Who rulethispeoplewhoare in Jerusalem,
"Howlong,O naiveones,will you lovebeing simple-minded?And scoffersdelightthemselves in scoffingAnd foolshateknowledge?
Scornersseta cityaflame,But wisementurnawayanger.
ThoughHe scoffsat the scoffers,Yet He givesgraceto the afflicted.
Hearthe wordof the LORD,You rulersof Sodom;Giveearto the instructionof our God,You peopleof Gomorrah.
Your rulersare rebelsAnd companionsof thieves;Everyonelovesa bribeAnd chasesafter rewards.They do not defendthe orphan,Nordoes the widow'spleacomebeforethem.
And nowdo not carryon as scoffers,Oryour fetterswill be madestronger;For I have heardfrom the LordGODof hostsOf decisivedestructionon allthe earth.
For the ruthlesswill cometo an endand the scornerwill be finished,Indeed allwho are intenton doingevilwill be cutoff;
O My people!Their oppressorsare children,And womenruleover them. O My people!Those who guideyou lead[you] astrayAnd confusethe directionof your paths.
"Listento Me, you stubborn-minded,Who are farfrom righteousness.
In my earsthe LORDof hosts[has sworn], "Surely,manyhousesshall becomedesolate,[Even] greatand fineones,withoutoccupants.
Listenand giveheed,do not be haughty,For the LORDhas spoken.
When Jehudihad readthreeor fourcolumns,[the king] cutit with a scribe'sknifeand threw[it] into the firethat was in the brazier,untilallthe scrollwas consumedin the firethat was in the brazier.
Therefore,O harlot,hearthe wordof the LORD.
On the dayof our king,the princesbecamesickwith the heatof wine;He stretchedout his handwith scoffers,
You who rejoicein Lodebar,And say,"Have we not by our [own] strengthtakenKarnaimfor ourselves?"
BEHOLD,YOU SCOFFERS,AND MARVEL,AND PERISH;FOR I AM ACCOMPLISHINGA WORKIN YOUR DAYS,A WORKWHICHYOU WILL NEVERBELIEVE,THOUGHSOMEONESHOULD DESCRIBEIT TO YOU.'"
