²⁰ He deprives of speech those who are trusted
    ^(A)and takes away the discernment of the elders.

^9 (A)It is not the old^[a] who are wise,
    nor the aged who understand what is right.

⁴ Since you have closed their hearts to understanding,
    therefore you will not let them triumph.

²⁴ He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth
    and ^(A)makes them wander in a trackless waste.

3 For behold, the ^(A)Lord God of hosts
    is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah
support and supply,^[a]
    all ^(B)support of bread,
    and all support of water;
^2 (C)the mighty man and the soldier,
    the judge and the prophet,
    the diviner and the elder,
³ the captain of fifty
    and the man of rank,
the counselor and the skillful magician
    and the expert in charms.

^22 (A)Lying lips are ^(B)an abomination to the Lord,
    ^(C)but those who act faithfully are his delight.

¹⁹ Truthful lips endure forever,
    but ^(A)a lying tongue is but for a moment.

²¹ The lips of the righteous feed many,
    but fools die for ^(A)lack of sense.

¹⁷ because God has made her forget wisdom
    and ^(A)given her no share in understanding.