⁴ Woe to the sinful nation,
    a people whose guilt is great,^(A)
a brood of evildoers,^(B)
    children given to corruption!^(C)
They have forsaken^(D) the Lord;
    they have spurned the Holy One^(E) of Israel
    and turned their backs^(F) on him.

²³ Your rulers are rebels,^(A)
    partners with thieves;^(B)
they all love bribes^(C)
    and chase after gifts.
They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;
    the widow’s case does not come before them.^(D)

⁵ The earth is defiled^(A) by its people;
    they have disobeyed^(B) the laws,
violated the statutes
    and broken the everlasting covenant.^(C)

²⁰ The earth reels like a drunkard,^(A)
    it sways like a hut^(B) in the wind;
so heavy upon it is the guilt of its rebellion^(C)
    that it falls^(D)—never to rise again.^(E)

⁹ For these are rebellious^(A) people, deceitful^(B) children,
    children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction.^(C)

⁸ “Remember^(A) this, keep it in mind,
    take it to heart, you rebels.^(B)

⁸ You have neither heard nor understood;^(A)
    from of old your ears^(B) have not been open.
Well do I know how treacherous^(C) you are;
    you were called a rebel^(D) from birth.

⁴ Who are you mocking?
    At whom do you sneer
    and stick out your tongue?
Are you not a brood of rebels,^(A)
    the offspring of liars?