³ They use their tongues like a bow.
    Lies rather than truth fly throughout^[a] the land.
They progress from one evil to another,
    and they don’t know me,”
        declares the Lord.
⁴ “Beware of your neighbors, and don’t trust
    any of your relatives.
For all of your relatives act deceitfully,
    and every friend goes around as a slanderer.
⁵ People deceive their friends,
    and they don’t tell the truth.
They have taught their tongues to tell lies.
    They exhaust themselves practicing evil.^[b]
6 You yourself live in the midst of deception,
    and because they are deceived they do not know me,”
        declares the Lord.
⁷ Therefore, this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says:
“Look, I’m about to refine and test them.
    Because they’re my people, what else can I do?^[c]
8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow
    that speaks deceit.
With his mouth a person says, ‘Peace,’ to his friend,
    but inwardly he sets a trap for him.
⁹ Should I not punish them for these things?”^[d]
    asks the Lord,
        “and should I not avenge myself on a nation like this?”