Israel’s Wicked Leaders

²³ And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ²⁴ “Son of man, say to her: ‘You are a land that is ^(A)not ^[a]cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.’ ^25 (B)The conspiracy of her ^[b]prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they ^(C)have devoured ^[c]people; ^(D)they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. ^26 (E)Her priests have ^[d]violated My law and ^(F)profaned My holy things; they have not ^(G)distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. ²⁷ Her ^(H)princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy ^[e]people, and to get dishonest gain. ^28 (I)Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, ^(J)seeing false visions, and divining ^(K)lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord had not spoken. ²⁹ The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully ^(L)oppress the stranger. ^30 (M)So I sought for a man among them who would ^(N)make a wall, and ^(O)stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. ³¹ Therefore I have ^(P)poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed ^(Q)their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God.