² “How long will you hand down unjust decisions
    by favoring the wicked? Interlude

⁵ It is not right to acquit the guilty
    or deny justice to the innocent.

¹ Justice—do you rulers^[b] know the meaning of the word?
    Do you judge the people fairly?
² No! You plot injustice in your hearts.
    You spread violence throughout the land.

⁹ 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.

³ So many enemies against one man—
    all of them trying to kill me.
To them I’m just a broken-down wall
    or a tottering fence.

¹⁹ He doesn’t care how great a person may be,
    and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor.
    He made them all.