¹⁴ So justice^(A) is driven back,
    and righteousness^(B) stands at a distance;
truth^(C) has stumbled in the streets,
    honesty cannot enter.

⁹ Hear this, you leaders of Jacob,
    you rulers of Israel,
who despise justice
    and distort all that is right;^(A)
10 who build^(B) Zion with bloodshed,^(C)
    and Jerusalem with wickedness.^(D)
11 Her leaders judge for a bribe,^(E)
    her priests teach for a price,^(F)
    and her prophets tell fortunes for money.^(G)
Yet they look^(H) for the Lord’s support and say,
    “Is not the Lord among us?
    No disaster will come upon us.”^(I)

¹¹ You levy a straw tax on the poor^(A)
    and impose a tax on their grain.
Therefore, though you have built stone mansions,^(B)
    you will not live in them;^(C)
though you have planted lush vineyards,
    you will not drink their wine.^(D)

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)

²⁷ Like cages full of birds,
    their houses are full of deceit;^(A)
they have become rich^(B) and powerful
²⁸     and have grown fat^(C) and sleek.
Their evil deeds have no limit;
    they do not seek justice.
They do not promote the case of the fatherless;^(D)
    they do not defend the just cause of the poor.^(E)

10 Woe^(A) to those who make unjust laws,
    to those who issue oppressive decrees,^(B)
2 to deprive^(C) the poor of their rights
    and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people,^(D)
making widows their prey
    and robbing the fatherless.^(E)

²³ who acquit the guilty for a bribe,^(A)
    but deny justice^(B) to the innocent.^(C)

²¹ See how the faithful city
    has become a prostitute!^(A)
She once was full of justice;
    righteousness^(B) used to dwell in her—
    but now murderers!^(C)