² Lord, how long will I call for help and you not listen?
        I cry out to you, “Violence!”
            but you don’t deliver us.
³ Why do you show me injustice and look at anguish
        so that devastation and violence are before me?
There is strife, and conflict abounds.
⁴         The Instruction is ineffective.
            Justice does not endure
            because the wicked surround the righteous.
        Justice becomes warped.

Write a vision, and make it plain upon a tablet
    so that a runner can read it.^[b]
3         There is still a vision for the appointed time;
            it testifies to the end;
                it does not deceive.^[c]
    If it delays, wait for it;
        for it is surely coming; it will not be late.
⁴ Some people’s desires are truly audacious;^[d]
            they don’t do the right thing.
        But the righteous person will live honestly.

¹³⁷ Lord, you are righteous,
    and your rules are right.
¹³⁸ The laws you commanded are righteous,
    completely trustworthy.
¹³⁹ Anger consumes me
    because my enemies have forgotten what you’ve said.
¹⁴⁰ Your word has been tried and tested;
    your servant loves your word!
¹⁴¹ I’m insignificant and unpopular,
    but I don’t forget your precepts.
¹⁴² Your righteousness lasts forever!
    Your Instruction is true!
¹⁴³ Stress and strain have caught up with me,
    but your commandments are my joy!
¹⁴⁴ Your laws are righteous forever.
    Help me understand so I can live!

¹⁰ Hear the Lord’s word, you leaders of Sodom.
    Listen to our God’s teaching,
        people of Gomorrah!
¹¹ What should I think about all your sacrifices?
    says the Lord.
I’m fed up with entirely burned offerings of rams
    and the fat of well-fed beasts.
    I don’t want the blood of bulls, lambs, and goats.
¹² When you come to appear before me,
    who asked this from you,
    this trampling of my temple’s courts?
¹³ Stop bringing worthless offerings.
    Your incense repulses me.
New moon, sabbath, and the calling of an assembly—
    I can’t stand wickedness with celebration!
¹⁴ I hate your new moons and your festivals.
    They’ve become a burden that I’m tired of bearing.
¹⁵ When you extend your hands,
    I’ll hide my eyes from you.
Even when you pray for a long time,
    I won’t listen.
Your hands are stained with blood.
¹⁶     Wash! Be clean!
Remove your ugly deeds from my sight.
    Put an end to such evil;
¹⁷     learn to do good.
Seek justice:
    help the oppressed;^[a]
    defend the orphan;
    plead for the widow.

32 The one whose wrongdoing is forgiven,
    whose sin is covered over, is truly happy!
² The one the Lord doesn’t consider guilty—
    in whose spirit there is no dishonesty—
    that one is truly happy!