And the dogsare greedy,they are not satisfied.And they are shepherdswho havenounderstanding;They have allturnedto their own way,Eachoneto his unjustgain,to the lastone.
norshall you be partialto a poormanin his dispute.
He who lovesmoneywill not be satisfiedwith money,norhe wholovesabundance[with its] income.Thistoois vanity.
"An oxknowsits owner,And a donkeyits master'smanger,[But] Israeldoes not know,My peopledo not understand."
And thesealsoreelwith wineand staggerfrom strongdrink:The priestand the prophetreelwith strongdrink,They are confusedby wine,they staggerfrom strongdrink;They reelwhile having visions,They totter[when rendering] judgment.
"Because of the iniquityof his unjustgainI was angryand struckhim; I hid[My face] and was angry,And he wenton turningaway,in the wayof his heart.
"But your eyesand your heartAre [intent] onlyupon your own dishonestgain,And on sheddinginnocentbloodAnd on practicingoppressionand extortion."
"For from the leastof them even to the greatestof them, Everyoneis greedyfor gain,And from the propheteven to the priestEveryonedealsfalsely.
"ThereforeI will givetheir wivesto others,Their fieldsto newowners;Becausefrom the leasteven to the greatestEveryoneis greedyfor gain;From the propheteven to the priestEveryonepracticesdeceit.
"For handfulsof barleyand fragmentsof bread,you have profanedMe to My peopleto putto deathsomewhoshould not dieand to keepothersalivewhoshould not live,by your lyingto My peoplewho listento lies."'"
They feedon the sinof My peopleAnd directtheir desiretowardtheir iniquity.
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."
"Ohthat there were one among you who would shutthe gates,that you might not uselesslykindle[fire on] My altar!I am not pleasedwith you," saysthe LORDof hosts,"norwill I acceptan offeringfrom you.
So the eldersof Moaband the eldersof Midiandepartedwith the [fees for] divinationin their hand;and they cameto Balaamand repeatedBalak'swordsto him.
"Whydo you not understandwhat I am saying?[It is] becauseyou cannothearMy word.
"I knowthat aftermy departuresavagewolveswill comein amongyou, not sparingthe flock;
"I have covetedno one'ssilverorgoldorclothes.
in whosecasethe godof thisworldhas blindedthe mindsof the unbelievingsothat they might not seethe lightof the gospelof the gloryof Christ,whois the imageof God.
whoseendis destruction,whosegodis [their] appetite,and [whose] gloryis in their shame,who set their mindson earthly things.
Bewareof the dogs,bewareof the evilworkers,bewareof the false circumcision;
not addicted to wineorpugnacious,but gentle,peaceable,free from the love of money.
Deaconslikewise[must be] men of dignity,not double-tongued,oraddictedto muchwineorfond of sordid gain,
whomustbe silencedbecausethey are upsettingwholefamilies,teachingthingsthey shouldnot [teach] for the sakeof sordidgain.
For the overseermustbe above reproachas God'ssteward,not self-willed,not quick-tempered,not addicted to wine,not pugnacious,not fond of sordid gain,
shepherdthe flockof Godamongyou, exercising oversightnot under compulsion,but voluntarily,accordingto [the will of] God;and not for sordid gain,but with eagerness;
and in [their] greedthey will exploityou with false words;their judgmentfrom long agois not idle,and their destructionis not asleep.
Woeto them! For they have gonethe wayof Cain,and for paythey have rushed headlonginto the errorof Balaam,and perishedin the rebellionof Korah.
Theseare grumblers,finding fault,followingaftertheir [own] lusts;they speakarrogantly,flatteringpeoplefor the sakeof [gaining an] advantage.
Outsideare the dogsand the sorcerersand the immoral personsand the murderersand the idolaters,and everyonewho lovesand practiceslying.
The priest'sheartwas glad,and he tookthe ephodand householdidolsand the gravenimageand wentamongthe people.
Whydo you kickat My sacrificeand at My offeringwhichI have commanded[in My] dwelling,and honoryour sonsaboveMe, by makingyourselves fatwith the choicestof everyofferingof My peopleIsrael?'
