The LORDentersinto judgmentwith the eldersand princesof His people,"It is you who have devouredthe vineyard;The plunderof the pooris in your houses.
"Is it becauseof your reverencethat He reprovesyou, That He entersinto judgmentagainstyou?
"The murdererarisesat dawn;He killsthe poorand the needy,And at nighthe is as a thief.
"Others snatchthe orphanfrom the breast,And againstthe poorthey takea pledge.
"For He does not [need to] considera manfurther,That he should gobeforeGodin judgment.
He lurksin a hidingplaceas a lionin his lair;He lurksto catchthe afflicted;He catchesthe afflictedwhen he drawshim into his net.
Do allthe workersof wickednessnot know,Who eatup my people[as] they eatbread,[And] do not callupon the Lord?
And do not enterinto judgmentwith Your servant,For in Your sightnomanlivingis righteous.
There is a kindof [man] whose teethare [like] swordsAnd his jawteeth[like] knives,To devourthe afflictedfrom the earthAnd the needyfrom among men.
Woeto those who enactevilstatutesAnd to those who constantly recordunjustdecisions,
So as to deprivethe needyof justiceAnd robthe poorof My peopleof [their] rights,So that widowsmay be their spoilAnd that they may plunderthe orphans.
But with righteousnessHe will judgethe poor,And decidewith fairnessfor the afflictedof the earth;And He will strikethe earthwith the rodof His mouth,And with the breathof His lipsHe will slaythe wicked.
"Those who are mosthelplesswill eat,And the needywill liedownin security;I will destroyyour rootwith famine,And it will killoff your survivors.
"The footwill trampleit, The feetof the afflicted,the stepsof the helpless."
The afflictedalso will increasetheir gladnessin the LORD,And the needyof mankindwill rejoicein the HolyOneof Israel.
Thereforethussaysthe HolyOneof Israel,"Sinceyou have rejectedthiswordAnd have putyour trustin oppressionand guile,and have reliedon them,
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.
"Behold,you fastfor contentionand strifeand to strikewith a wickedfist.You do not fastlike [you do] todayto makeyour voiceheardon high.
"Manyshepherdshave ruinedMy vineyard,They have trampleddownMy field;They have madeMy pleasantfieldA desolatewilderness.
Like a cagefullof birds,Sotheir housesare fullof deceit;Thereforethey have becomegreatand rich.
oppressesthe poorand needy,commitsrobbery,does not restorea pledge,but liftsup his eyesto the idols[and] commitsabomination,
and I will bringyou into the wildernessof the peoples,and thereI will enterinto judgmentwith you faceto face.
"As I enteredinto judgmentwith your fathersin the wildernessof the landof Egypt,soI will enterinto judgmentwith you," declaresthe LordGOD.
Ifyou makea sale,moreover, to your friendorbuyfrom your friend'shand,you shall not wrongoneanother.
So you shall not wrongoneanother,but you shall fearyour God;for I am the LORDyour God.
"These who pantafterthe [very] dustof the earthon the headof the helplessAlso turnasidethe wayof the humble;And a manand his fatherresortto the same girlIn orderto profaneMy holyname.
Hearthisword,you cowsof Bashanwhoare on the mountainof Samaria,Who oppressthe poor,who crushthe needy,Who sayto your husbands,"Bringnow, that we may drink!"
Woeto those who schemeiniquity,Who workout evilon their beds!When morningcomes, they doit, For it is in the powerof their hands.
They covetfieldsand then seize[them], And houses,and take[them] away. They roba manand his house,A manand his inheritance.
Whoeatthe fleshof my people,Stripofftheir skinfrom them, Breaktheir bonesAnd chop[them] up as for the potAnd as meatin a kettle."
"Is there yeta manin the wickedhouse,[Along with] treasuresof wickednessAnd a shortmeasure[that is] cursed?
"Listento anotherparable.There was a landownerwhoPLANTEDA VINEYARDAND PUTA WALLAROUNDIT AND DUGA WINE PRESSIN IT, AND BUILTA TOWER,and rentedit out to vine-growersand went on a journey.
But you have dishonoredthe poor man.Is it not the richwho oppressyou and personallydragyou into court?
