Yes, truthis lacking;And he who turnsasidefrom evilmakeshimself a prey.Now the LORDsaw,And it was displeasingin His sightthat therewas nojustice.
But whathe didwas displeasingin the sightof the LORD;so He tookhis lifealso.
When the [time of] mourningwas over,Davidsentand broughther to his houseand she becamehis wife;then she borehim a son.But the thingthat Davidhad donewas evilin the sightof the LORD.
Now Jehucameout to the servantsof his master,and one saidto him, "Is all well?Whydid thismadfellowcometo you?" And he saidto them, "You know[very well] the manand his talk."
Yet the LORDwas not willingto destroythe houseof Davidbecauseof the covenantwhichHe had madewith David,and sinceHe had promisedto givea lampto him and his sonsforever.
Thereis nothingreliablein whatthey say;Their inwardpartis destruction[itself]. Their throatis an opengrave;They flatterwith their tongue.
Howthe faithfulcityhas becomea harlot,She [who] was fullof justice!Righteousnessonce lodgedin her, But nowmurderers.
So as to deprivethe needyof justiceAnd robthe poorof My peopleof [their] rights,So that widowsmay be their spoilAnd that they may plunderthe orphans.
Who cause a personto be indictedby a word,And ensnarehim who adjudicatesat the gate,And defraudthe onein the rightwith meaninglessarguments.
As for a rogue,his weaponsare evil;He deviseswickedschemesTo destroy[the] afflictedwith slander,Even though [the] needyonespeakswhatis right.
"Listento Me, you stubborn-minded,Who are farfrom righteousness.
"Hearthis,O houseof Jacob,who are namedIsraelAnd who cameforthfrom the loinsof Judah,Who swearby the nameof the LORDAnd invokethe Godof Israel,[But] not in truthnorin righteousness.
Who justifythe wickedfor a bribe,And takeawaythe rightsof the ones whoare in the right!
Noonesuesrighteouslyand noonepleadshonestly.They trustin confusionand speaklies;They conceivemischiefand bringforthiniquity.
I will destineyou for the sword,And allof you will bowdownto the slaughter.BecauseI called,but you did not answer;I spoke,but you did not hear.And you didevilin My sightAnd chosethat in whichI did not delight."
SoI will choosetheir punishmentsAnd will bringon them whatthey dread.BecauseI called,but nooneanswered;I spoke,but they did not listen.And they didevilin My sightAnd chosethat in whichI did not delight."
"The LORDhas madeyou priestinsteadof Jehoiadathe priest,to be the overseerin the houseof the LORDover everymadmanwho prophesies,to puthim in the stocksand in the ironcollar,
"You shall sayto them, 'Thisis the nationthat did not obeythe voiceof the LORDtheir Godor acceptcorrection;truthhas perishedand has been cutofffrom their mouth.
To defrauda manin his lawsuit--Of these things the Lorddoes not approve.
The daysof punishmenthave come,The daysof retributionhave come;Let Israelknow[this]! The prophetis a fool,The inspiredmanis demented,Becauseof the grossnessof your iniquity,And [because] your hostilityis [so] great.
They hatehim who reprovesin the gate,And they abhorhim who speaks[with] integrity.
The godlypersonhas perishedfrom the land,And thereis noupright[person] among men.Allof them liein waitfor bloodshed;Eachof them huntsthe otherwith a net.
When His own people heard[of] [this], they wentout to take custodyof Him; for they were saying,"He has lost His senses."
Manyof them were saying,"He hasa demonand is insane.Whydo you listento Him?"
The Jewssaidto Him, "Nowwe knowthat You havea demon.Abrahamdied,and the prophets[also]; and You say,'IfanyonekeepsMy word,he will nevertasteof death.'
While [Paul] was sayingthisin his defense,Festussaidin a loudvoice,"Paul,you are out of your mind![Your] greatlearningis drivingyou mad."
NowSaul,stillbreathingthreatsand murderagainstthe disciplesof the Lord,wentto the high priest,
Whenmanydayshad elapsed,the Jewsplotted togetherto do awaywith him,
Justas it is written,"FOR YOUR SAKEWE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATHALLDAYLONG; WE WERE CONSIDEREDAS SHEEPTO BE SLAUGHTERED."
For ifwe are beside ourselves,it is for God;ifwe are of sound mind,it is for you.
