⁴ Woe to the sinful nation,
    a people whose guilt is great,^(A)
a brood of evildoers,^(B)
    children given to corruption!^(C)
They have forsaken^(D) the Lord;
    they have spurned the Holy One^(E) of Israel
    and turned their backs^(F) on him.

⁵ Why should you be beaten^(G) anymore?
    Why do you persist^(H) in rebellion?^(I)
Your whole head is injured,
    your whole heart^(J) afflicted.^(K)
6 From the sole of your foot to the top of your head^(L)
    there is no soundness^(M)—
only wounds and welts^(N)
    and open sores,
not cleansed or bandaged^(O)
    or soothed with olive oil.^(P)

⁵ Why then have these people turned away?
    Why does Jerusalem always turn away?
They cling to deceit;^(A)
    they refuse to return.^(B)
6 I have listened^(C) attentively,
    but they do not say what is right.
None of them repent^(D) of their wickedness,
    saying, “What have I done?”
Each pursues their own course^(E)
    like a horse charging into battle.
⁷ Even the stork in the sky
    knows her appointed seasons,
and the dove, the swift and the thrush
    observe the time of their migration.
But my people do not know^(F)
    the requirements of the Lord.

⁸ “‘How can you say, “We are wise,
    for we have the law^(G) of the Lord,”
when actually the lying pen of the scribes
    has handled it falsely?
⁹ The wise^(H) will be put to shame;
    they will be dismayed^(I) and trapped.^(J)
Since they have rejected the word^(K) of the Lord,
    what kind of wisdom^(L) do they have?
¹⁰ Therefore I will give their wives to other men
    and their fields to new owners.^(M)
From the least to the greatest,
    all are greedy for gain;^(N)
prophets^(O) and priests alike,
    all practice deceit.^(P)