Noonesuesrighteouslyand noonepleadshonestly.They trustin confusionand speaklies;They conceivemischiefand bringforthiniquity.
"Let him not trustin emptiness,deceivinghimself; For emptinesswill be his reward.
"They conceivemischiefand bringforthiniquity,And their mindpreparesdeception."
May the LORDcutoffallflatteringlips,The tonguethat speaksgreatthings;
Do not trustin oppressionAnd do not vainlyhopein robbery;Ifrichesincrease,do not set[your] heart[upon them].
They have counseledonlyto thrusthim downfrom his highposition;They delightin falsehood;They blesswith their mouth,But inwardlythey curse.Selah.
He has duga pitand hollowedit out, And has falleninto the holewhich he made.
For they cannotsleepunlessthey doevil;And they are robbedof sleepunlessthey make [someone] stumble.
Woeto those who enactevilstatutesAnd to those who constantly recordunjustdecisions,
We were pregnant,we writhed[in labor], We gavebirth,as it seems, [only] to wind.We could not accomplishdeliverancefor the earth,Norwere inhabitantsof the worldborn.
Becauseyou have said,"We have madea covenantwith death,And with Sheolwe have madea pact.The overwhelmingscourgewill not reachus whenit passesby, For we have madefalsehoodour refugeand we have concealedourselves with deception."
For the ruthlesswill cometo an endand the scornerwill be finished,Indeed allwho are intenton doingevilwill be cutoff;
Thereforethussaysthe HolyOneof Israel,"Sinceyou have rejectedthiswordAnd have putyour trustin oppressionand guile,and have reliedon them,
For thisis a rebelliouspeople,false~sons,Sonswho refuseto listenTo the instructionof the LORD;
"You have conceivedchaff,you will givebirthto stubble;My breathwill consumeyou like a fire.
He feedson ashes;a deceivedhearthas turnedhim aside.And he cannotdeliverhimself,norsay,"Is there not a liein my righthand?"
"You feltsecurein your wickednessand said,Nooneseesme,' Your wisdomand your knowledge,they have deludedyou; For you have saidin your heart,I am, and thereis noonebesidesme.'
Woeto those who draginiquitywith the cordsof falsehood,And sinas if with cartropes;
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.
Yes, truthis lacking;And he who turnsasidefrom evilmakeshimself a prey.Now the LORDsaw,And it was displeasingin His sightthat therewas nojustice.
And He sawthat therewas noman,And was astonishedthat therewas nooneto intercede;Then His own armbroughtsalvationto Him, And His righteousnessupheldHim.
For your handsare defiledwith bloodAnd your fingerswith iniquity;Your lipshave spokenfalsehood,Your tonguemutterswickedness.
Thereis noonewho callson Your name,Who arouseshimself to takeholdof You; For You have hiddenYour facefrom us And have deliveredus into the powerof our iniquities.
The headis the elderand honorableman, And the prophetwho teachesfalsehoodis the tail.
"For becauseof your trustin your own achievementsand treasures,Evenyou yourselfwill be captured;And Chemoshwill gooffinto exileTogetherwith his priestsand his princes.
"Roamto and frothrough the streetsof Jerusalem,And looknowand takenote.And seekin her opensquares,Ifyou can finda man,Ifthereis one who doesjustice,who seekstruth,Then I will pardonher.
"Do not trustin deceptivewords,saying,Thisis the templeof the LORD,the templeof the LORD,the templeof the LORD.'
"Behold,you are trustingin deceptivewordsto noavail.
Listento the wordof the LORD,O sonsof Israel,For the LORDhas a caseagainstthe inhabitantsof the land,Becausethereis nofaithfulnessor kindnessOr knowledgeof Godin the land.
Woeto those who schemeiniquity,Who workout evilon their beds!When morningcomes, they doit, For it is in the powerof their hands.
The Jewsalsojoined in the attack,assertingthat these thingswere so.
Thenwhen lusthas conceived,it gives birthto sin;and when sinis accomplished,it brings forthdeath.
