There is a kindof [man] whose teethare [like] swordsAnd his jawteeth[like] knives,To devourthe afflictedfrom the earthAnd the needyfrom among men.
"I brokethe jawsof the wickedAnd snatchedthe preyfrom his teeth.
"Whocan openthe doorsof his face?Aroundhis teeththere is terror.
"Becauseof the devastationof the afflicted,becauseof the groaningof the needy,NowI will arise,"saysthe LORD;"I will sethim in the safetyfor which he longs."
Blessedbe the LORD,Whohas not givenus to be tornby their teeth.
Do allthe workersof wickednessnot know,Who eatup my people[as] they eatbread,[And] do not callupon the Lord?
Arise,O LORD;saveme, O my God!For You have smittenallmy enemieson the cheek;You have shatteredthe teethof the wicked.
Your tonguedevisesdestruction,Like a sharprazor,O workerof deceit.
My soulis amonglions;I must lieamong those who breatheforthfire,[Even] the sonsof men,whose teethare spearsand arrowsAnd their tonguea sharpsword.
Be exaltedabovethe heavens,O God;[Let] Your glory[be] aboveallthe earth.
O God,shattertheir teethin their mouth;Breakout the fangsof the younglions,O LORD.
Thereis one who speaksrashlylike the thrustsof a sword,But the tongueof the wisebringshealing.
He who oppressesthe poorto makemorefor himself Or who givesto the rich,[will] only[come to] poverty.
A poormanwho oppressesthe lowlyIs [like] a drivingrainwhich leavesnofood.
The leechhas twodaughters,"Give,""Give."Thereare threethingsthat will not be satisfied,Fourthat will not say,"Enough":
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].
So as to deprivethe needyof justiceAnd robthe poorof My peopleof [their] rights,So that widowsmay be their spoilAnd that they may plunderthe orphans.
The LORDentersinto judgmentwith the eldersand princesof His people,"It is you who have devouredthe vineyard;The plunderof the pooris in your houses.
"Whatdo you mean by crushingMy peopleAnd grindingthe faceof the poor?"Declaresthe LordGODof hosts.
As for a rogue,his weaponsare evil;He deviseswickedschemesTo destroy[the] afflictedwith slander,Even though [the] needyonespeakswhatis right.
"Behold,the rulersof Israel,eachaccording to his power,have beenin you for the purposeof sheddingblood.
"You eatthe fatand clotheyourselveswith the wool,you slaughterthe fat[sheep] withoutfeedingthe flock.
"These who pantafterthe [very] dustof the earthon the headof the helplessAlso turnasidethe wayof the humble;And a manand his fatherresortto the same girlIn orderto profaneMy holyname.
Hearthisword,you cowsof Bashanwhoare on the mountainof Samaria,Who oppressthe poor,who crushthe needy,Who sayto your husbands,"Bringnow, that we may drink!"
Hearthis,you who tramplethe needy,to doawaywith the humbleof the land,
You piercedwith his own spearsThe headof his throngs.They stormedin to scatterus; Their exultation[was] likethose Who devourthe oppressedin secret.
Her princeswithinher are roaringlions,Her judgesare wolvesat evening;They leavenothingfor the morning.
"But woeto you, scribesand Pharisees,hypocrites,becauseyou shutoff the kingdomof heavenfrom people;for you do not enterin yourselves,nordo you allowthosewho are enteringto goin.
They hadhairlikethe hairof women,and their teethwere like[the teeth] of lions.
