Zion’s Destruction

Listen to this, leaders of the house of Jacob,(A)
you rulers of the house of Israel,
who abhor justice(B)
and pervert everything that is right,
10 who build Zion with bloodshed(C)
and Jerusalem with injustice.
11 Her leaders issue rulings for a bribe,(D)
her priests teach for payment,(E)
and her prophets practice divination for money.
Yet they lean on the Lord, saying,
“Isn’t the Lord(F) among us?
No disaster will overtake us.”
12 Therefore, because of you,
Zion will be plowed like a field,
Jerusalem will become ruins,(G)
and the hill of the temple mount(H)
will be a thicket.(I)

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Listen to me, you leaders of Israel!
    You hate justice and twist all that is right.
10 You are building Jerusalem
    on a foundation of murder and corruption.
11 You rulers make decisions based on bribes;
    you priests teach God’s laws only for a price;
you prophets won’t prophesy unless you are paid.
    Yet all of you claim to depend on the Lord.
“No harm can come to us,” you say,
    “for the Lord is here among us.”
12 Because of you, Mount Zion will be plowed like an open field;
    Jerusalem will be reduced to ruins!
A thicket will grow on the heights
    where the Temple now stands.

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