¹⁴ Justice is turned back,
    and deliverance stands at a distance,
for truth stumbles in the public square,
    and uprightness cannot enter.^(A)
15 Truth is lacking,
    and whoever turns from evil is despoiled.

² It has listened to no voice;
    it has accepted no correction.
It has not trusted in the Lord;
    it has not drawn near to its God.^(A)

⁷ I said, “Surely the city^[a] will fear me;
    it will accept correction;
it will not lose sight^[b]
    of all that I have brought upon it.”
But they were the more eager
    to make all their deeds corrupt.^(A)

² The faithful have disappeared from the land,
    and there is no one left who is upright;
they all lie in wait for blood,
    and they hunt each other with nets.^(A)
3 Their hands are skilled to do evil;
    the official and the judge ask for a bribe,
and the powerful dictate what they desire;
    thus they pervert justice.^[a](B)
4 The best of them is like a brier,
    the most upright of them a thorn hedge.
The day of their^[b] sentinels, of their^[c] punishment, has come;
    now their confusion is at hand.^(C)
5 Put no trust in a friend;
    have no confidence in a loved one;
guard the doors of your mouth
    from her who lies in your embrace,

4 Hear the word of the Lord, O people of Israel,
    for the Lord has an indictment against the inhabitants of the land.
There is no faithfulness or loyalty
    and no knowledge of God in the land.^(A)