Unjust Leaders Judged
1Then I said, “Now listen, 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? Ps 82:1-5; Jr 5:5
2You hate good and love evil.
You tear off people’s skin Ps 53:4; Ezk 22:27; Mc 2:8; 7:2-3
and strip their flesh from their bones.
3You eat the flesh 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 up Ezk 11:3,6-7
like flesh for the cooking pot,
like meat in a cauldron.”
but He will not answer them.
He will hide His face from them at that time 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, Is 3:12; 9:15-16; Jr 14:14-15
who proclaim 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 night Is 8:20-22; 29:10-12 for you —
without visions;
it will grow dark for you —
without divination. Dt 18:10; Jos 13:22
The sun will set Is 59:10 on these prophets,
and the daylight will turn black over them.
7Then the seers will be ashamed Zch 13:4
and the diviners disappointed. Is 44:25; 47:12-14
They will all cover their mouths Lit mustache Lv 13:45; Lm 4:13-15; Ezk 24:17,22; Mc 7:16
because there will be no answer from God. 1Sm 28:6; Is 29:9-12; Mc 3:4
8As for me, however, I am filled with power 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. Is 58:1
Zion’s Destruction
9Listen to this, leaders of the house of Jacob, Mc 3:1
you rulers of the house of Israel,
who abhor justice Ps 58:1-2; Is 1:23
and pervert everything that is right,
10who build Zion with bloodshed Jr 22:13,17; Hab 2:12
and Jerusalem with injustice.
11Her leaders issue rulings for a bribe, Is 1:23; Mc 7:3
her priests teach for payment, Jr 6:13
and her prophets practice divination for money.
Yet they lean on the Lord, saying,
“Isn’t the Lord 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, Jr 9:11
and the hill of the temple mount Mc 4:1
will be a thicket. Jr 26:18
Holman Christian Standard Bible®
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009
by Holman Bible Publishers
