A leaderwho is a greatoppressorlacksunderstanding,[But] he who hatesunjustgainwill prolong[his] days.
The youngmenwhogrewup with him spoketo him, saying,"Thusyou shall sayto thispeoplewhospoketo you, saying,'Your fathermadeour yokeheavy,now you makeit lighterfor us!' But you shall speakto them, 'My littlefingeris thickerthanmy father'sloins!
and he spoketo them according to the adviceof the youngmen,saying,"My fathermadeyour yokeheavy,but I will addto your yoke;my fatherdisciplinedyou with whips,but I will disciplineyou with scorpions."
But the formergovernorswhowere beforeme laidburdenson the peopleand tookfrom them breadand winebesidesfortyshekelsof silver;eventheir servantsdomineeredthe people.But I did not dosobecauseof the fearof God.
"Furthermore, you shall selectout of allthe peopleablemenwho fearGod,menof truth,those who hatedishonestgain;and you shall place[these] overthem [as] leadersof thousands,of hundreds,of fiftiesand of tens.
He who profitsillicitlytroubleshis own house,But he who hatesbribeswill live.
Woeto you, O land,whosekingis a ladand whose princesfeastin the morning.
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].
O My people!Their oppressorsare children,And womenruleover them. O My people!Those who guideyou lead[you] astrayAnd confusethe directionof your paths.
Hearthisword,you cowsof Bashanwhoare on the mountainof Samaria,Who oppressthe poor,who crushthe needy,Who sayto your husbands,"Bringnow, that we may drink!"
