¹⁴ In his anger^(A) against Israel the Lord gave them into the hands^(B) of raiders who plundered^(C) them. He sold them^(D) into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist.^{(E) 15} Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the Lord was against them^(F) to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress.^(G)

¹⁶ Then the Lord raised up judges,^[a](H) who saved^(I) them out of the hands of these raiders. ¹⁷ Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted^(J) themselves to other gods^(K) and worshiped them.^(L) They quickly turned^(M) from the ways of their ancestors, who had been obedient to the Lord’s commands.^{(N) 18} Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved^(O) them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord relented^(P) because of their groaning^(Q) under those who oppressed and afflicted^(R) them.