"From the citymengroan,And the soulsof the woundedcryout; Yet Goddoes not payattentionto folly.
He said,"Whathave you done?The voiceof your brother'sbloodis cryingto Me from the ground.
"Withinthe wallsthey produceoil;They treadwinepressesbut thirst.
"Othershave beenwith those who rebelagainst the light;They do not want to knowits waysNorabidein its paths.
"Ifthe scourgekillssuddenly,He mocksthe despairof the innocent.
"The earthis giveninto the handof the wicked;He coversthe facesof its judges.If[it is] not [He], thenwhois it?
Whyhas the wickedspurnedGod?He has saidto himself,"You will not require[it]."
For I am afflictedand needy,And my heartis woundedwithinme.
"Becauseof the devastationof the afflicted,becauseof the groaningof the needy,NowI will arise,"saysthe LORD;"I will sethim in the safetyfor which he longs."
"Thesethingsyou have doneand I keptsilence;You thoughtthat I was just likeyou; I will reproveyou and state[the case] in orderbefore your eyes.
For they have persecutedhim whomYou Yourselfhave smitten,And they tellof the painof those whom You have wounded.
for that is his onlycovering;it is his cloakfor his body.Whatelse shall he sleepin? And it shall comeabout that whenhe criesout to Me, I will hear[him], for I am gracious.
Then I lookedagainat allthe actsof oppressionwhichwere being doneunderthe sun.And behold[I saw] the tearsof the oppressedand [that] they hadnooneto comfort[them]; and on the sideof their oppressorswas power,but they hadnooneto comfort[them].
"Nowtherefore, whatdo I have here,"declaresthe LORD,"seeing that My peoplehave been takenaway withoutcause?"[Again] the LORDdeclares,"Those who ruleover them howl,and My nameis continuallyblasphemedalldaylong.
Righteousare You, O LORD,that I would plead[my] casewith You; IndeedI would discussmattersof justicewith You: Whyhas the wayof the wickedprospered?[Why] are allthose who dealin treacheryat ease?
You have plantedthem, they have alsotakenroot;They grow,they have evenproducedfruit.You are nearto their lipsBut farfrom their mind.
You have weariedthe LORDwith your words.Yet you say,"Howhave we wearied[Him]?" In that you say,"Everyonewho doesevilis goodin the sightof the LORD,and He delightsin them," or,"Whereis the Godof justice?"
So nowwe callthe arrogantblessed;not onlyare the doersof wickednessbuiltup but they alsotestGodand escape.'"
and regardthe patienceof our Lord[as] salvation;justas alsoour belovedbrotherPaul,accordingto the wisdomgivenhim, wroteto you,
So they putawaythe foreigngodsfrom amongthem and servedthe LORD;and He couldbearthe miseryof Israelnolonger.
