⁴ So the law becomes slack,
    and justice never prevails.
The wicked surround the righteous;
    therefore judgment comes forth perverted.^(A)

²¹ How the faithful city
    has become a prostitute!
    She that was full of justice,
righteousness lodged in her—
    but now murderers!^(A)
22 Your silver has become dross;
    your wine is mixed with water.^(B)
23 Your princes are rebels
    and companions of thieves.
Everyone loves a bribe
    and runs after gifts.
They do not defend the orphan,
    and the widow’s cause does not come before them.^(C)

¹²⁶ It is time for the Lord to act,
    for your law has been broken.

⁷ Why do the wicked live on,
    reach old age, and grow mighty in power?^(A)

12 You will be in the right, O Lord,
    when I lay charges against you,
    but let me put my case to you.
Why does the way of the guilty prosper?
    Why do all who are treacherous thrive?^(A)

²⁰ Can wicked rulers be allied with you,
    those who contrive mischief by statute?^(A)
21 They band together against the life of the righteous
    and condemn the innocent to death.^(B)

¹² For I know how many are your transgressions
    and how great are your sins—
you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe
    and push aside the needy in the gate.^(A)

⁴ They utter mere words;
    with empty oaths they make covenants;
so litigation springs up like poisonous weeds
    in the furrows of the field.^(A)