Concerningevil,both handsdoit well.The princeasks,also the judge,for a bribe,And a greatmanspeaksthe desireof his soul;So they weaveit together.
He who winkshis eyes[does so] to deviseperversethings;He who compresseshis lipsbringsevilto pass.
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 behold,the LORDis about to comeout from His placeTo punishthe inhabitantsof the earthfor their iniquity;And the earthwill revealher bloodshedAnd will nolongercoverher slain.
And the peoplewill be oppressed,Eachoneby another,and eachoneby his neighbor;The youthwill stormagainst the elderAnd the inferioragainst the honorable.
As for a rogue,his weaponsare evil;He deviseswickedschemesTo destroy[the] afflictedwith slander,Even though [the] needyonespeakswhatis right.
Who justifythe wickedfor a bribe,And takeawaythe rightsof the ones whoare in the right!
Will He be angryforever?Will He be indignantto the end?'Behold,you have spokenAnd have doneevilthings,And you have hadyour way."
"For My peopleare foolish,They knowMe not; They are stupidchildrenAnd havenounderstanding.They are shrewdto doevil,But to dogoodthey do not know."
"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.
"Behold,the rulersof Israel,eachaccording to his power,have beenin you for the purposeof sheddingblood.
"Becauseyou pushwith sideand with shoulder,and thrustat allthe weakwith your hornsuntilyou have scatteredthem abroad,
Then He saidto me, "The iniquityof the houseof Israeland Judahis very,verygreat,and the landis filledwith bloodand the cityis fullof perversion;for they say,'The LORDhas forsakenthe land,and the LORDdoes not see!'
Their liquorgone,They playthe harlotcontinually;Their rulersdearlyloveshame.
With their wickednessthey makethe kingglad,And the princeswith their lies.
For I knowyour transgressionsare manyand your sinsare great,[You] who distressthe righteous[and] acceptbribesAnd turnasidethe poorin the gate.
"RecentlyMy peoplehave arisenas an enemy--You stripthe robeoffthe garmentFrom unsuspectingpassers-by,[From] those returnedfrom war.
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."
"You who hategoodand loveevil,Who tearofftheir skinfrom them And their fleshfrom their bones,
and said,"Whatare you willingto giveme to betrayHim to you?" And they weighedout thirtypieces of silverto him.
Thereforedo not go on passing judgmentbeforethe time,[but wait] untilthe Lordcomeswhowill bothbring to lightthe things hiddenin the darknessand disclosethe motivesof [men's] hearts;and theneach man'spraisewill cometo him from God.
