Study Desk

Then I said, "Now listen,^(a) leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Aren't you supposed to know what is just?^(b)

You hate good and love evil. You tear off people's skin^(c) and strip their flesh from their bones.

You eat the flesh^(d) of my people after you strip their skin from them and break their bones. You chop them up^(e) like flesh for the cooking pot, like meat in a cauldron."

Then they will cry out^(f) to the Lord , but He will not answer them. He will hide His face from them at that time^(g) because of the crimes they have committed.

This is what the Lord says concerning the prophets who lead my people astray,^(h) who proclaim⁽ⁱ⁾ peace when they have food to sink their teeth into but declare war against the one who puts nothing in their mouths.

Therefore, it will be night^(j) for you— without visions; it will grow dark for you— without divination.^(k) The sun will set^(l) on these prophets, and the daylight will turn black over them.

Then the seers will be ashamed^(m) and the diviners disappointed.⁽ⁿ⁾ They will all cover their mouths^[a](o) because there will be no answer from God.^(p)

As for me, however, I am filled with power^(q) by the Spirit of the Lord , with justice and courage, to proclaim to Jacob his rebellion and to Israel his sin.^(r)

Listen to this, leaders of the house of Jacob,^(s) you rulers of the house of Israel, who abhor justice^(t) and pervert everything that is right,

who build Zion with bloodshed^(u) and Jerusalem with injustice.

Her leaders issue rulings for a bribe,^(v) her priests teach for payment,^(w) and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean on the Lord , saying, "Isn't the Lord ^(x) among us? No disaster will overtake us."

Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become ruins,^(y) and the hill of the temple mount^(z) will be a thicket.^(aa)