"Others snatchthe orphanfrom the breast,And againstthe poorthey takea pledge.
Now a certainwomanof the wivesof the sonsof the prophetscriedout to Elisha,"Your servantmy husbandis dead,and you knowthat your servantfearedthe LORD;and the creditorhas cometo takemy twochildrento be his slaves."
"Nowour fleshis like the fleshof our brothers,our childrenlike their children.Yet behold,we are forcingour sonsand our daughtersto be slaves,and someof our daughtersare forcedinto bondage[already], and we are helplessbecause our fieldsand vineyardsbelong to others."
"For you have takenpledgesof your brotherswithoutcause,And strippedmen naked.
"They cause [the poor] to goabout nakedwithoutclothing,And they takeawaythe sheavesfrom the hungry.
"They are wetwith the mountainrainsAnd hugthe rockfor wantof a shelter.
BecauseI deliveredthe poorwho criedfor help,And the orphanwho had nohelper.
"You would evencast[lots] for the orphansAnd barteroveryour friend.
The LORDentersinto judgmentwith the eldersand princesof His people,"It is you who have devouredthe vineyard;The plunderof the pooris in your houses.
"Ifa manis caughtkidnappinganyof his countrymenof the sonsof Israel,and he dealswith him violentlyor sellshim, then that thiefshall die;so you shall purgethe evilfrom amongyou.
