¹⁸ Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved^(A) them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord relented^(B) because of their groaning^(C) under those who oppressed and afflicted^(D) them. ¹⁹ But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt^(E) than those of their ancestors,^(F) following other gods and serving and worshiping them.^(G) They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn^(H) ways.

²⁰ Therefore the Lord was very angry^(I) with Israel and said, “Because this nation has violated the covenant^(J) I ordained for their ancestors and has not listened to me,