Aa
Unjust Leaders Judged
1Then I said, “Now listen,3:1 Is 1:10; Mc 3:9 leaders of Jacob,
you rulers of the house of Israel.
Aren’t you supposed to know what is just?3:1 Ps 82:1–5; Jr 5:5
2You hate good and love evil.
You tear off people’s skin3:2 Ps 53:4; Ezk 22:27; Mc 2:8; 7:2–3
and strip their flesh from their bones.
3You eat the flesh3:3 Ps 14:4; 27:2; Zph 3:3 of my people
after you strip their skin from them
and break their bones.
You chop them up3:3 Ezk 11:3,6–7
like flesh for the cooking pot,
like meat in a cauldron.”
4Then they will cry out3:4 Ps 18:41; Pr 1:28; Is 1:15; Jr 11:11 to the Lord,
but he will not answer them.
He will hide his face from them at that time3:4 Dt 31:17; Is 59:2
because of the crimes they have committed.
False Prophets Judged
5This is what the Lord says
concerning the prophets
who lead my people astray,3:5 Is 3:12; 9:15–16; Jr 14:14–15
who proclaim3:5 Jr 6:14 peace
when they have food to sink their teeth into
but declare war against the one
who puts nothing in their mouths.
6Therefore, it will be night3:6 Is 8:20–22; 29:10–12 for you —
without visions;
it will grow dark for you —
without divination.3:6 Dt 18:10; Jos 13:22
The sun will set3:6 Is 59:10 on these prophets,
and the daylight will turn black over them.
7Then the seers will be ashamed3:7 Zch 13:4
and the diviners disappointed.3:7 Is 44:25; 47:12–14
They will all cover their mouths3:7 Lit mustache3:7 Lv 13:45; Lm 4:13–15; Ezk 24:17,22; Mc 7:16
because there will be no answer from God.3:7 1Sm 28:6; Is 29:9–12; Mc 3:4

8As for me, however, I am filled with power3:8 Is 61:1–2; Jr 1:18
by the Spirit of the Lord,
with justice and courage,
to proclaim to Jacob his rebellion
and to Israel his sin.3:8 Is 58:1
Zion’s Destruction
9Listen to this, leaders of the house of Jacob,3:9 Mc 3:1
you rulers of the house of Israel,
who abhor justice3:9 Ps 58:1–2; Is 1:23
and pervert everything that is right,
10who build Zion with bloodshed3:10 Jr 22:13,17; Hab 2:12
and Jerusalem with injustice.
11Her leaders issue rulings for a bribe,3:11 Is 1:23; Mc 7:3
her priests teach for payment,3:11 Jr 6:13
and her prophets practice divination for silver.
Yet they lean on the Lord, saying,
“Isn’t the Lord3:11 Is 48:2 among us?
No disaster will overtake us.”
12Therefore, because of you,
Zion will be plowed like a field,
Jerusalem will become ruins,3:12 Jr 9:11
and the temple’s mountain3:12 Mc 4:1
will be a high thicket.3:12 Jr 26:18