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.

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.

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.

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 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.

“ Because of the oppression of the afflicted and the groaning of the poor, I will now rise up,” says the Lord.“ I will put the one who longs for it in a safe place.”

Again, I observed all the acts of oppression being done under the sun. Look at the tears of those who are oppressed; they have no one to comfort them. Power is with those who oppress them; they have no one to comfort them.

I also observed under the sun: there is wickedness at the place of judgment and there is wickedness at the place of righteousness.

God has taken His place in the divine assembly; He judges among the gods:

Tell him,‘ This is what the Lord says: Have you murdered and also taken possession?’ Then tell him,‘ This is what the Lord says: In the place where the dogs licked Naboth’s blood, the dogs will also lick your blood!’”Ahab said to Elijah,“ So, you have caught me, my enemy.” He replied,“ I have caught you because you devoted yourself to do what is evil in the Lord’s sight.

Cross over to Calneh and see; go from there to great Hamath; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Is their territory larger than yours?You dismiss any thought of the evil day and bring in a reign of violence.They lie on beds inlaid with ivory, sprawled out on their couches, and dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall.They improvise songs to the sound of the harp and invent their own musical instruments like David.They drink wine by the bowlful and anoint themselves with the finest oils but do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.

I love those who love me, and those who search for me find me.

The angel replied to her:“ The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.

Why do you crush My people and grind the faces of the poor?” This is the declaration of the Lord God of Hosts.

Do horses gallop on the cliffs; does anyone plow there with oxen? Yet you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood—

Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said,“ Quick, get up!” Then the chains fell off his wrists.“ Get dressed,” the angel told him,“ and put on your sandals.” And he did so.“ Wrap your cloak around you,” he told him,“ and follow me.”So he went out and followed, and he did not know that what took place through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.After they passed the first and second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went outside and passed one street, and immediately the angel left him.

The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather from His kingdom everything that causes sin and those guilty of lawlessness.They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger— the staff in their hands is My wrath.I will send him against a godless nation; I will command him to go against a people destined for My rage, to take spoils, to plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets.But this is not what he intends; this is not what he plans. It is his intent to destroy and to cut off many nations.

Then I saw that the woman was drunk on the blood of the saints and on the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.Then the angel said to me,“ Why are you astonished? I will tell you the secret meaning of the woman and of the beast, with the seven heads and the 10 horns, that carries her.

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city;

Are there still the treasures of wickedness and the accursed short measure in the house of the wicked?Can I excuse wicked scales or bags of deceptive weights?For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; the tongues in their mouths are deceitful.“ As a result, I have begun to strike you severely, bringing desolation because of your sins.

Then the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning— there were all the dead bodies!

Are You not from eternity, Yahweh my God? My Holy One, You will not die. Lord, You appointed them to execute judgment; my Rock, You destined them to punish us.Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate those who are treacherous? Why are You silent while one who is wicked swallows up one who is more righteous than himself?

For judgment is without mercy to the one who hasn’t shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

transgression and deception against the Lord, turning away from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering lying words from the heart.Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far off. For truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty cannot enter.Truth is missing, and whoever turns from evil is plundered. The Lord saw that there was no justice, and He was offended.He saw that there was no man— He was amazed that there was no one interceding; so His own arm brought salvation, and His own righteousness supported Him.

How long, Lord, must I call for help and You do not listen or cry out to You about violence and You do not save?Why do You force me to look at injustice? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates.

For what hope does the godless man have when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?Will God hear his cry when distress comes on him?Will he delight in the Almighty? Will he call on God at all times?I will teach you about God’s power. I will not conceal what the Almighty has planned.All of you have seen this for yourselves, why do you keep up this empty talk?This is a wicked man’s lot from God, the inheritance the ruthless receive from the Almighty.Even if his children increase, they are destined for the sword; his descendants will never have enough food.Those who survive him will be buried by the plague, yet their widows will not weep for them.Though he piles up silver like dust and heaps up a wardrobe like clay—he may heap it up, but the righteous will wear it, and the innocent will divide up his silver.The house he built is like a moth’s cocoon or a booth set up by a watchman.He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more; when he opens his eyes, it is gone.Terrors overtake him like a flood; a storm wind sweeps him away at night.An east wind picks him up, and he is gone; it carries him away from his place.It blasts at him without mercy, while he flees desperately from its grasp.It claps its hands at him and scorns him from its place.

For I know your crimes are many and your sins innumerable. They oppress the righteous, take a bribe, and deprive the poor of justice at the gates.

May they know that You alone— whose name is Yahweh— are the Most High over all the earth.

“ Look, every prince of Israel within you has used his strength to shed blood.Father and mother are treated with contempt, and the foreign resident is exploited within you. The fatherless and widow are oppressed in you.You despise My holy things and profane My Sabbaths.There are men within you who slander in order to shed blood. People who live in you eat at the mountain shrines; they commit immoral acts within you.Men within you have sexual intercourse with their father’s wife and violate women during their menstrual impurity.One man within you commits a detestable act with his neighbor’s wife; another wickedly defiles his daughter-in-law; and yet another violates his sister, his father’s daughter.People who live in you accept bribes in order to shed blood. You take interest and profit on a loan and brutally extort your neighbors. You have forgotten Me.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.“ Now look, I clap My hands together against the dishonest profit you have made and against the blood shed among you.Will your courage endure or your hands be strong in the days when I deal with you? I, Yahweh, have spoken, and I will act.

Hear this, you who trample on the needy and do away with the poor of the land,asking,“ When will the New Moon be over so we may sell grain, and the Sabbath, so we may market wheat? We can reduce the measure while increasing the price and cheat with dishonest scales.We can buy the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals and even sell the chaff!”The Lord has sworn by the Pride of Jacob: I will never forget all their deeds.

The Lord of Hosts says this:“ Though it may seem incredible to the remnant of this people in those days, should it also seem incredible to Me?”— this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.

For the High and Exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy says this:“ I live in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and lowly of spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the oppressed.

Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their hearts. You will listen carefully,doing justice for the fatherless and the oppressed so that men of the earth may terrify them no more.

The righteous one will rejoice when he sees the retribution; he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.Then people will say,“ Yes, there is a reward for the righteous! There is a God who judges on earth!”

“ I will come to you in judgment, and I will be ready to witness against sorcerers and adulterers; against those who swear falsely; against those who oppress the widow and the fatherless, and cheat the wage earner; and against those who deny justice to the foreigner. They do not fear Me,” says the Lord of Hosts.

I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: My plan will take place, and I will do all My will.I call a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far country. Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about. I have planned it; I will also do it.

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways!

Woe to those who dream up wickedness and prepare evil plans on their beds! At morning light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands.They covet fields and seize them; they also take houses. They deprive a man of his home, a person of his inheritance.Therefore, the Lord says: I am now planning a disaster against this nation; you cannot free your necks from it. Then you will not walk so proudly because it will be an evil time.

“ For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed,to do whatever Your hand and Your plan had predestined to take place.

For the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah, the plant He delighted in. He looked for justice but saw injustice, for righteousness, but heard cries of wretchedness.

But when the Lord finishes all His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will say,“ I will punish the king of Assyria for his arrogant acts and the proud look in his eyes.”

Then God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but when the angel was about to destroy the city, the Lord looked, relented concerning the destruction, and said to the angel who was destroying the people,“ Enough, withdraw your hand now!” The angel of the Lord was then standing at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.When David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, with his drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem, David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell down with their faces to the ground.

Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you.

And child, you will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways,

Then I said,“ Now listen, leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Aren’t you supposed to know what is just?You hate good and love evil. You tear off people’s skin and strip their flesh from their bones.You eat the flesh of my people after you strip their skin from them and break their bones. You chop them up like flesh for the cooking pot, like meat in a cauldron.”Then they will cry out to the Lord, but He will not answer them. He will hide His face from them at that time because of the crimes they have committed.

For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods.

Your wealth is ruined and your clothes are moth-eaten.Your silver and gold are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You stored up treasure in the last days!Look! The pay that you withheld from the workers who reaped your fields cries out, and the outcry of the harvesters has reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.You have lived luxuriously on the land and have indulged yourselves. You have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter.You have condemned— you have murdered— the righteous man; he does not resist you.Therefore, brothers, be patient until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.

Do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.

At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he became infected with worms and died.

But you have eyes and a heart for nothing except your own dishonest profit, shedding innocent blood and committing extortion and oppression.Therefore, this is what the Lord says concerning Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah: They will not mourn for him, saying,“ Woe, my brother!” or“ Woe, my sister!” They will not mourn for him, saying,“ Woe, lord! Woe, his majesty!”He will be buried like a donkey, dragged off and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.

You force the women of My people out of their comfortable homes, and you take My blessing from their children forever.

“ The Lord of Hosts says this: Make fair decisions. Show faithful love and compassion to one another.Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor, and do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they closed their ears so they could not hear.They made their hearts like a rock so as not to obey the law or the words that the Lord of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the Lord of Hosts.Just as He had called, and they would not listen, so when they called, I would not listen,” says the Lord of Hosts.

Do not let a slanderer stay in the land. Let evil relentlessly hunt down a violent man.I know that the Lord upholds the just cause of the poor, justice for the needy.

Listen to this, leaders of the house of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel, who abhor justice and pervert everything that is right,who build Zion with bloodshed and Jerusalem with injustice.Her leaders issue rulings for a bribe, her priests teach for payment, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean on the Lord, saying,“ Isn’t the Lord among us? No disaster will overtake us.”Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become ruins, and the hill of the temple mount will be a thicket.

For he oppressed and abandoned the poor; he seized a house he did not build.Because his appetite is never satisfied, he does not let anything he desires escape.Nothing is left for him to consume; therefore, his prosperity will not last.At the height of his success distress will come to him; the full weight of misery will crush him.When he fills his stomach, God will send His burning anger against him, raining it down on him while he is eating.If he flees from an iron weapon, an arrow from a bronze bow will pierce him.He pulls it out of his back, the flashing tip out of his liver. Terrors come over him.Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. A fire unfanned by human hands will consume him; it will feed on what is left in his tent.The heavens will expose his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.The possessions in his house will be removed, flowing away on the day of God’s anger.This is the wicked man’s lot from God, the inheritance God ordained for him.