1 A nd I said: “Hear now, O heads of Jacob, And you rulers of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know justice?

And I said, “ Hear now, heads of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel. Is it not for you to know justice?

2 Y ou who hate good and love evil; Who strip the skin from My people, And the flesh from their bones;

“You who hate good and love evil, Who tear off their skin from them And their flesh from their bones,

3 W ho also eat the flesh of My people, Flay their skin from them, Break their bones, And chop them in pieces Like meat for the pot, Like flesh in the caldron.”

Who eat the flesh of my people, Strip off their skin from them, Break their bones And chop them up as for the pot And as meat in a kettle.”

4 T hen they will cry to the Lord, But He will not hear them; He will even hide His face from them at that time, Because they have been evil in their deeds.

Then they will cry out to the Lord, But He will not answer them. Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time Because they have practiced evil deeds.

5 T hus says the Lord concerning the prophets Who make my people stray; Who chant “Peace” While they chew with their teeth, But who prepare war against him Who puts nothing into their mouths:

Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; When they have something to bite with their teeth, They cry, “Peace,” But against him who puts nothing in their mouths They declare holy war.

6 “ Therefore you shall have night without vision, And you shall have darkness without divination; The sun shall go down on the prophets, And the day shall be dark for them.

Therefore it will be night for you—without vision, And darkness for you—without divination. The sun will go down on the prophets, And the day will become dark over them.

7 S o the seers shall be ashamed, And the diviners abashed; Indeed they shall all cover their lips; For there is no answer from God.”

The seers will be ashamed And the diviners will be embarrassed. Indeed, they will all cover their mouths Because there is no answer from God.

8 B ut truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, And of justice and might, To declare to Jacob his transgression And to Israel his sin.

On the other hand I am filled with power— With the Spirit of the Lord — And with justice and courage To make known to Jacob his rebellious act, Even to Israel his sin.

9 N ow hear this, You heads of the house of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel, Who abhor justice And pervert all equity,

Now hear this, heads of the house of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel, Who abhor justice And twist everything that is straight,

10 W ho build up Zion with bloodshed And Jerusalem with iniquity:

Who build Zion with bloodshed And Jerusalem with violent injustice.

11 H er heads judge for a bribe, Her priests teach for pay, And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the Lord, and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No harm can come upon us.”

Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe, Her priests instruct for a price And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the Lord saying, “ Is not the Lord in our midst? Calamity will not come upon us.”

12 T herefore because of you Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, And the mountain of the temple Like the bare hills of the forest.

Therefore, on account of you Zion will be plowed as a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins, And the mountain of the temple will become high places of a forest.