Suppose you see poor people being mistreated somewhere. And what is being done to them isn’t right or fair. Don’t be surprised by that. One official is watched by a higher one. Officials who are even higher are watching both of them.

你若在一省之中见穷人受欺压，并夺去公义公平的事，不要因此诧异；因有一位高过居高位的鉴察，在他们以上还有更高的。

你若在一个地区看见穷人受欺压，公义公平被掠夺，不要因此惊奇；有一位高过居高位的在鉴察，在他们之上还有更高的。

你若在一个地区看见穷人受欺压，公义公平被掠夺，不要因此惊奇；有一位高过居高位的在鉴察，在他们之上还有更高的。

若你在某地看见穷人受欺压，公平正义被扭曲，不要震惊，因为官上有官，在众官之上还有更高的官。

如果你在一省之中，看到穷人遭受欺压，公正和公义被夺去，也不必因此惊讶，因为高位者之上有较高的照应，在他们之上还有更高的。

如果你在某一省中看到穷人受欺压，公正和公义被夺去，不要因此感到惊奇，因为高位者之上有更高的在保护他，在他们之上还有更高的保护他们。

你若在一省之中見窮人受欺壓，並奪去公義公平的事，不要因此詫異；因有一位高過居高位的鑒察，在他們以上還有更高的。

你若在一個地區看見窮人受欺壓，公義公平被掠奪，不要因此驚奇；有一位高過居高位的在鑒察，在他們之上還有更高的。

你若在一個地區看見窮人受欺壓，公義公平被掠奪，不要因此驚奇；有一位高過居高位的在鑒察，在他們之上還有更高的。

若你在某地看見窮人受欺壓，公平正義被扭曲，不要震驚，因為官上有官，在眾官之上還有更高的官。

如果你在一省之中，看到窮人遭受欺壓，公正和公義被奪去，也不必因此驚訝，因為高位者之上有較高的照應，在他們之上還有更高的。

你若在一省之中見有窮乏人受欺壓、而公平公義的權利被剝奪，你不要因這事而詫異；因為有一位高於居高位者在鑒察着，而在他們以上還有更高的。

如果你在某一省中看到窮人受欺壓，公正和公義被奪去，不要因此感到驚奇，因為高位者之上有更高的在保護他，在他們之上還有更高的保護他們。

若在州中見貧者受虐、或見強者奪公義、勿以為異、蓋有居位較高者鑒之、又有更高者在焉、

爾觀州邑強暴、虐貧枉法、則勿殷憂、人雖居高位、更有尊於彼者、鑒察其所為、其上又有至尊至高者。

然有王受國人之服役、凡事究於國有益、或作王營謀農事於國為益莫大

If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.

If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them.

Don’t be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land. For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice get lost in red tape and bureaucracy.

If you see oppression of the poor and perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, don’t be astonished at the situation, because one official protects another official, and higher officials protect them.

If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them.

If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them.

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there are higher than they.

If you see oppression of the poor and perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, don’t be astonished at the situation, because one official protects another official, and higher officials protect them.

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for[ he that is] higher than the highest regardeth; and[ there be] higher than they.

If you see the extortion of the poor, or the perversion of justice and fairness in the government, do not be astonished by the matter. For the high official is watched by a higher official, and there are higher ones over them!

If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don’t marvel at the matter, for one official is eyed by a higher one, and there are officials over them.

The Lord says,“ The poor are being robbed. Those who are in need groan. So I will stand up to help them. I will keep them safe from those who tell lies about them.”

I looked and saw how much people were suffering on this earth. I saw the tears of those who are suffering. They don’t have anyone to comfort them. Power is on the side of those who treat them badly. Those who are suffering don’t have anyone to comfort them.

Here’s something else I saw on earth. Where people should be treated right, they are treated wrong. Where people should be treated fairly, they are treated unfairly.

God takes his place at the head of a large gathering of leaders. He announces his decisions among them.

Tell him,‘ The Lord says,“ Haven’t you murdered a man? Haven’t you taken over his property?” ’ Then tell Ahab,‘ The Lord says,“ Dogs licked up Naboth’s blood. In that same place dogs will lick up your blood. Yes, I said your blood!” ’ ”Ahab said to Elijah,“ My enemy! You have found me!”“ I have found you,” he answered.“ That’s because you gave yourself over to do evil things. You did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.

Go and look at the city of Kalneh. Go from there to the great city of Hamath. Then go down to Gath in Philistia. Are those places better off than your two kingdoms? Is their land larger than yours?You are trying to avoid the time when trouble will come. But you are only bringing closer the Assyrian rule of terror.You lie down on beds that are decorated with ivory. You rest on your couches. You eat the best lambs and the fattest calves.You pluck away on your harps as David did. You play new songs on musical instruments.You drink wine by the bowlful. You use the finest lotions. But Joseph’s people will soon be destroyed. And you aren’t even sad about it.

I love those who love me. Those who look for me find me.

The angel answered,“ The Holy Spirit will come to you. The power of the Most High God will cover you. So the holy one that is born will be called the Son of God.

What do you mean by crushing my people? Why are you grinding the faces of the poor into the dirt?” announces the Lord. He is the Lord who rules over all.

Horses don’t run on rocky ground. People don’t plow the sea with oxen. But you have turned fair treatment into poison. You have turned the fruit of right living into bitterness.

Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared. A light shone in the prison cell. The angel struck Peter on his side. Peter woke up.“ Quick!” the angel said.“ Get up!” The chains fell off Peter’s wrists.Then the angel said to him,“ Put on your clothes and sandals.” Peter did so.“ Put on your coat,” the angel told him.“ Follow me.”Peter followed him out of the prison. But he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening. He thought he was seeing a vision.They passed the first and second guards. Then they came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself. They went through it. They walked the length of one street. Suddenly the angel left Peter.

The Son of Man will send out his angels. They will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin. They will also get rid of all who do evil.They will throw them into the blazing furnace. There people will weep and grind their teeth.

The Lord says,“ How terrible it will be for the people of Assyria! They are the war club that carries out my anger.I will send them against the ungodly nation of Judah. I will order them to fight against my own people. My people make me angry. I will order Assyria to take their goods and carry them away. I will order Assyria to walk on my people as if they were walking on mud.But that is not what the king of Assyria plans. It is not what he has in mind. His purpose is to destroy many nations. His purpose is to put an end to them.

I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people. They are the ones who are witnesses about Jesus. When I saw her, I was very amazed.Then the angel said to me,“ Why are you amazed? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman. And I will explain the mystery of the beast she rides on. The beast is the one who has the seven heads and ten horns.

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king like his father David of long ago.

Lord, confuse the sinners and keep them from understanding one another. I see people destroying things and fighting in the city.

You sinful people, should I forget that you got your treasures by stealing them? You use dishonest measures to cheat others. I have placed a curse on that practice.Should I forgive anyone who uses dishonest scales? They use weights that weigh things heavier or lighter than they really are.The rich people among you harm others. You are always telling lies. You try to fool others by what you say.So I have begun to strike you down. I have begun to destroy you because you have sinned so much.

Then the angel of the Lord went into the camp of the Assyrians. He put to death 185,000 soldiers there. The people of Jerusalem got up the next morning. They looked out and saw all the dead bodies.

Lord, haven’t you existed forever? You are my holy God. You will never die. Lord, you have appointed the Babylonians to punish your people. My Rock, you have chosen them to judge us.Your eyes are too pure to look at what is evil. You can’t put up with the wrong things people do. So why do you put up with those who can’t be trusted? The evil Babylonians swallow up those who are more godly than themselves. So why are you silent?

Those who have not shown mercy will not receive mercy when they are judged. To show mercy is better than to judge.

We’ve refused to obey the Lord. We’ve made evil plans against him. We’ve turned our backs on our God. We’ve stirred up conflict and refused to follow him. We’ve told lies that came from our own minds.So people stop others from doing what is fair. They keep them from doing what is right. No one tells the truth in court anymore. No one is honest there.In fact, truth can’t be found anywhere. Those who refuse to do evil are attacked. The Lord sees that people aren’t treating others fairly. That makes him unhappy.He sees that there is no one who helps his people. He is shocked that no one stands up for them. So he will use his own powerful arm to save them. He has the strength to do it because he is holy.

Lord, how long do I have to call out for help? Why don’t you listen to me? How long must I keep telling you that things are terrible? Why don’t you save us?Why do you make me watch while people treat others so unfairly? Why do you put up with the wrong things they are doing? I have to look at death. People are harming others. They are arguing and fighting all the time.

What hope do ungodly people have when their lives are cut short? What hope do they have when God takes away their lives?God won’t listen to their cry when trouble comes on them.They won’t take delight in the Mighty One. They’ll never call out to God.“ I’ll teach all of you about God’s power. I won’t hide the things the Mighty One does.You have seen those things yourselves. So why do you continue your useless talk?“ Here’s what God does to sinful people. Here’s what those who are mean receive from the Mighty One.All their children will be killed by swords. They’ll never have enough to eat.A plague will kill those who are left alive. The widows of sinful men won’t even weep over their own children.Sinners might store up silver like dust and clothes like piles of clay.But people who do what is right will wear those clothes. People who haven’t done anything wrong will divide up that silver.The house an evil person builds is like a moth’s cocoon. It’s like a hut that’s made by someone on guard duty.Sinful people lie down wealthy, but their wealth is taken away. When they open their eyes, everything is gone.Terrors sweep over them like a flood. A storm takes them away during the night.The east wind carries them off, and they are gone. It sweeps them out of their houses.It blows against them without mercy. They try to escape from its power.It claps its hands and makes fun of them. It hisses them out of their houses.”

I know how many crimes you have committed. You have sinned far too much. Among you are people who crush those who have done no wrong. They accept money from people who want special favors. They take away the rights of poor people in the courts.

May you, the Lord, let your enemies know who you are. You alone are the Most High God over the whole earth.

“‘ “The princes of Israel are in your city. All of them use their power to spill blood.They have made fun of fathers and mothers alike. They have crushed outsiders. They have treated badly the children whose fathers have died. They have done the same thing to widows.You have looked down on the holy things that were set apart to me. You have misused my Sabbath days.You have spread lies about others so you can spill someone’s blood. You eat at the mountain temples. You commit impure acts.You bring shame on your fathers by having sex with their wives. You have sex with women during their monthly period. That is when they are‘ unclean.’One of you has sex with another man’s wife. I hate that sin. Another brings shame on his daughter- in- law by having sex with her. Still another has sex with his sister, even though she is his own father’s daughter.You accept money from people who want special favors. You do this to spill someone’s blood. You charge interest to poor people when you lend them money. You make money from them. You get rich by cheating your neighbors. And you have forgotten me,” announces the Lord and King.“‘ “I will clap my hands because I am so angry. You got rich by cheating others. You spilled blood inside the walls of your city.Will you be brave on the day I deal with you? Will you be strong at that time? I have spoken. I will do this. I am the Lord.

Listen to me, you who walk all over needy people. You crush those who are poor in the land.You say,“ When will the New Moon feast be over? Then we can sell our grain. When will the Sabbath day come to an end? Then people can buy our wheat.” But you measure out less than the right amount. You raise your prices. You cheat others by using dishonest scales.You buy poor people to make slaves out of them. You buy those who are in need for a mere pair of sandals. You even sell the worthless parts of your wheat.People of Jacob, you are proud that the Lord is your God. But he has made a promise in his own name. He says,“ I will never forget anything Israel has done.

He continued,“ All of that might seem hard to believe to the people living then. But it will not be too hard for me.”

The God who is highly honored lives forever. His name is holy. He says,“ I live in a high and holy place. But I also live with anyone who turns away from their sins. I live with anyone who is not proud. I give new life to them. I give it to anyone who turns away from their sins.

Lord, you hear the desires of those who are hurting. You cheer them up and give them hope. You listen to their cries.You stand up for those whose fathers have died and for those who have been treated badly. You do it so that mere human beings made of dust may not terrify others anymore.

Godly people will be glad when those who have hurt them are paid back. They will dip their feet in the blood of those who do evil.Then people will say,“ The godly will get their reward. There really is a God who judges the earth.”

“ So I will come and put you on trial. I will be quick to bring charges against all of you,” says the Lord who rules over all.“ I will bring charges against you sinful people who do not have any respect for me. That includes those who practice evil magic. It includes those who commit adultery and those who tell lies in court. It includes those who cheat workers out of their pay. It includes those who treat widows badly. It also includes those who mistreat children whose fathers have died. And it includes those who take away the rights of outsiders in the courts.

Before something even happens, I announce how it will end. In fact, from times long ago I announced what was still to come. I say,‘ My plan will succeed. I will do anything I want to do.’I will send for a man from the east to carry out my plan. From a land far away, he will come like a bird that kills its food. I will bring about what I have said. I will do what I have planned.

How very rich are God’s wisdom and knowledge! How he judges is more than we can understand! The way he deals with people is more than we can know!

How terrible it will be for those who plan to harm others! How terrible for those who make evil plans before they even get out of bed! As soon as daylight comes, they carry out their plans. That’s because they have the power to do it.If they want fields or houses, they take them. They cheat people out of their homes. They rob them of their property.So the Lord says to them,“ I am planning to send trouble on you. You will not be able to save yourselves from it. You will not live so proudly anymore. It will be a time of trouble.

In fact, Herod and Pontius Pilate met with the Gentiles in this city. They also met with the people of Israel. All of them made plans against your holy servant Jesus. He is the one you anointed.They did what your power and purpose had already decided should happen.

The vineyard of the Lord who rules over all is the nation of Israel. The people of Judah are the vines he took delight in. He kept looking for them to do what is fair. But all he saw was blood being spilled. He kept looking for them to do what is right. But all he heard were cries of suffering.

The Lord will finish everything he has planned to do against Mount Zion and Jerusalem. Then he’ll say,“ Now I will punish the king of Assyria. I will punish him because his heart and his eyes are so proud.

God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But as the angel was doing it, the Lord saw it. The Lord decided to end the plague he had sent. So he spoke to the angel who was destroying the people. He said,“ That is enough! Do not kill any more people!” The angel of the Lord was standing at Araunah’s threshing floor. Araunah was from the city of Jebus.David looked up. He saw the angel of the Lord standing between heaven and earth. The angel was holding out a sword over Jerusalem. David and the elders fell with their faces to the ground. They were wearing the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad.

Dear friends, don’t be surprised by the terrible things happening to you. The trouble you are having has come to test you. So don’t feel as if something strange were happening to you.

“ And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God. You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare the way for him.

Then I said,“ Listen, you leaders of Jacob’s people! Pay attention, you rulers of Israel! You should want to judge others fairly.But you hate what is good. And you love what is evil. You are like someone who tears the skin off my people. You pull the meat off their bones.You eat my people’s bodies. You strip off their skin. You break their bones in pieces. You chop them up like meat. You put them in a cooking pot.”The time will come when Israel will cry out to the Lord. But he won’t answer them. In fact, he’ll turn his face away from them. They have done what is evil.

The Lord is the great God. He is the greatest King. He rules over all the gods.

Your riches have rotted. Moths have eaten your clothes.Your gold and silver have lost their brightness. Their dullness will be a witness against you. Your wanting more and more will eat your body like fire. You have stored up riches in these last days.You have even failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields. Their pay is crying out against you. The cries of those who gathered the harvest have reached the ears of the Lord. He rules over all.You have lived an easy life on earth. You have given yourselves everything you wanted. You have made yourselves fat like cattle that will soon be butchered.You have judged and murdered people who aren’t guilty. And they weren’t even opposing you.Brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord comes. See how the farmer waits for the land to produce its rich crop. See how patient the farmer is for the fall and spring rains.

My brothers and sisters, don’t be surprised if the world hates you.

Right away an angel of the Lord struck Herod down. Herod had not given praise to God. So he was eaten by worms and died.

“ Jehoiakim, the only thing on your mind is to get rich by cheating others. You would even kill people who are not guilty of doing anything wrong. You would mistreat them. You would take everything they own.”So the Lord speaks about King Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah. He says,“ His people will not mourn for him. They will not say,‘ My poor brother! My poor sister!’ They will not mourn for him. They will not say,‘ My poor master! How sad that his glory is gone!’In fact, he will be buried like a donkey. His body will be dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.”

You drive the women among my people out of their pleasant homes. You take away my blessing from their children forever.

Here is what the Lord who rules over all said to his people.“ Treat everyone with justice. Show mercy and tender concern to one another.Do not take advantage of widows. Do not mistreat children whose fathers have died. Do not be mean to outsiders or poor people. Do not make evil plans against one another.”But they refused to pay attention to the Lord. They were stubborn. They turned their backs and covered their ears.They made their hearts as hard as the hardest stone. They wouldn’t listen to the law. They wouldn’t pay attention to the Lord’ s messages. So the Lord who rules over all was very angry. After all, his Spirit had spoken to his people through the earlier prophets.“ When I called, they did not listen,” says the Lord.“ So when they called, I would not listen.

Don’t let people who lie about me be secure in the land. May trouble hunt down those who want to hurt me.I know that the Lord makes sure that poor people are treated fairly. He stands up for those who are in need.

Listen to me, you leaders of Jacob’s people! Pay attention, you rulers of Israel! You hate to do what is fair. You twist everything that is right.You build up Zion by spilling the blood of others. You build Jerusalem by doing what is evil.Your judges take money from people who want special favors. Your priests teach only if they get paid for it. Your prophets won’t tell fortunes unless they receive money. But you still look for the Lord’ s help. You say,“ The Lord is with us. No trouble will come on us.”So because of what you have done, Zion will be plowed up like a field. Jerusalem will be turned into a pile of trash. The temple hill will be covered with bushes and weeds.

They’ve crushed poor people and left them with nothing. They’ve taken over houses they didn’t even build.“ No matter how much they have, they always long for more. But their treasure can’t save them.There isn’t anything left for them to eat up. Their success won’t last.While they are enjoying the good life, trouble will catch up with them. Terrible suffering will come on them.When they’ve filled their stomachs, God will pour out his great anger on them. He’ll strike them down with blow after blow.They might run away from iron weapons. But arrows that have bronze tips will wound them.They will pull the arrows out of their backs. They will remove the shining tips from their livers. They will be filled with terror.Total darkness hides and waits for their treasures. God will send a fire that will destroy them. It will burn up everything that’s left in their tents.Heaven will show their guilt to everyone. The earth will be a witness against them.A flood will carry their houses away. Rushing water will wash them away on the day when God judges.Now you know what God will do to sinful people. Now you know what he has planned for them.”