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."
A wickedmanreceivesa bribefrom the bosomTo pervertthe waysof justice.
Your rulersare rebelsAnd companionsof thieves;Everyonelovesa bribeAnd chasesafter rewards.They do not defendthe orphan,Nordoes the widow'spleacomebeforethem.
"For they callthemselves afterthe holycityAnd leanon the Godof Israel;The LORDof hostsis His name.
Who justifythe wickedfor a bribe,And takeawaythe rightsof the ones whoare in the right!
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.
"They keep sayingto those who despiseMe, 'The LORDhas said,"You will havepeace"'; And as for everyonewho walksin the stubbornnessof his own heart,They say,Calamitywill not comeupon you.'
The priestsand the prophetsand allthe peopleheardJeremiahspeakingthesewordsin the houseof the LORD.
They have liedabout the LORDAnd said,"Not He; Misfortunewill not comeon us, And we will not seeswordor famine.
"For from the leastof them even to the greatestof them, Everyoneis greedyfor gain,And from the propheteven to the priestEveryonedealsfalsely.
"Do not trustin deceptivewords,saying,Thisis the templeof the LORD,the templeof the LORD,the templeof the LORD.'
"ThereforeI will givetheir wivesto others,Their fieldsto newowners;Becausefrom the leasteven to the greatestEveryoneis greedyfor gain;From the propheteven to the priestEveryonepracticesdeceit.
"In you they have takenbribesto shedblood;you have takeninterestand profits,and you have injuredyour neighborsfor gainby oppression,and you have forgottenMe," declaresthe LordGOD.
"Her princeswithinher are like wolvestearingthe prey,by sheddingblood[and] destroyinglivesin orderto getdishonestgain.
"Sonof man,prophesyagainstthe shepherdsof Israel.Prophesyand sayto those shepherds,'Thussaysthe LordGOD,"Woe,shepherdsof Israelwhohave beenfeedingthemselves! Should not the shepherdsfeedthe flock?
Their liquorgone,They playthe harlotcontinually;Their rulersdearlyloveshame.
They feedon the sinof My peopleAnd directtheir desiretowardtheir iniquity.
Seekgoodand not evil,that you may live;And thusmay the LORDGodof hostsbe with you, Justas you have said!
"Allthe sinnersof My peoplewill dieby the sword,Those who say,The calamitywill not overtakeor confrontus.'
Thussaysthe LORDconcerningthe prophetswho leadmy peopleastray;When they have [something] to bitewith their teeth,They cry,"Peace,"But againsthim whoputsnothingin their mouthsThey declareholywar.
Concerningevil,both handsdoit well.The princeasks,also the judge,for a bribe,And a greatmanspeaksthe desireof his soul;So they weaveit together.
Her princeswithinher are roaringlions,Her judgesare wolvesat evening;They leavenothingfor the morning.
Her prophetsare reckless,treacherousmen;Her priestshave profanedthe sanctuary.They have doneviolenceto the law.
"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 I alsohave madeyou despisedand abasedbefore allthe people,justas you are not keepingMy waysbut are showingpartialityin the instruction.
Then Mosesbecameveryangryand saidto the LORD,"Do not regardtheir offering!I have not takena singledonkeyfrom them, norhave I doneharmto anyof them."
So the eldersof Moaband the eldersof Midiandepartedwith the [fees for] divinationin their hand;and they cameto Balaamand repeatedBalak'swordsto him.
and do not supposethat you can sayto yourselves,We haveAbrahamfor our father;for I sayto you that from thesestonesGodis ableto raiseup childrento Abraham.
not addicted to wineorpugnacious,but gentle,peaceable,free from the love of money.
whomustbe silencedbecausethey are upsettingwholefamilies,teachingthingsthey shouldnot [teach] for the sakeof sordidgain.
shepherdthe flockof Godamongyou, exercising oversightnot under compulsion,but voluntarily,accordingto [the will of] God;and not for sordid gain,but with eagerness;
Woeto them! For they have gonethe wayof Cain,and for paythey have rushed headlonginto the errorof Balaam,and perishedin the rebellionof Korah.
His sons,however, did not walkin his ways,but turnedasideafterdishonestgainand tookbribesand pervertedjustice.
