¹² Youths^(A) oppress my people,
    women rule over them.
My people, your guides lead you astray;^(B)
    they turn you from the path.

⁴ “I will make mere youths their officials;
    children will rule over them.”^(A)

¹³ Look at your troops—
    they are all weaklings.^(A)
The gates^(B) of your land
    are wide open to your enemies;
    fire has consumed the bars of your gates.^(C)

¹⁴ Therefore hear the word of the Lord,^(A) you scoffers^(B)
    who rule this people in Jerusalem.
¹⁵ You boast, “We have entered into a covenant with death,^(C)
    with the realm of the dead we have made an agreement.
When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by,^(D)
    it cannot touch us,
for we have made a lie^(E) our refuge
    and falsehood^[a] our hiding place.^(F)”

³¹ The prophets prophesy lies,^(A)
    the priests^(B) rule by their own authority,
and my people love it this way.
    But what will you do in the end?^(C)

¹⁵ the elders^(A) and dignitaries^(B) are the head,
    the prophets^(C) who teach lies^(D) are the tail.
¹⁶ Those who guide^(E) this people mislead them,
    and those who are guided are led astray.^(F)