The mountains will melt beneath His feet; the valleys will burst open, Like wax next to a raging fire, as water pours from the heights.

Because of this, you will have no descendant who can measure out your share in the Eternal’s community.

If someone going on about nothing of worth wanders by and says, “I’ve come to preach to you of whiskey and wine,” Then these selfish people would hire him as their official speaker just because they like his message.

Listen to what I say, you leaders of Jacob who judge, you rulers of the people of Israel who sit in the city gates. Shouldn’t you know what justice is?

Yet you hate what is good and love evil; you skin the people alive and tear the meat from their bones.

These selfish judges eat the flesh of my people, strip off their skin, break their bones into splinters, And chop them up like stew meat for the kettle, like meat for the pot.

This is my message for the false prophets who have led my people so far from the truth, Who preach peace when someone pays them with food and declare war against those who don’t:

But that is not the case with me—I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Eternal One, with God’s justice and might, To accuse Jacob of his crimes and the daughter of Israel of her wrongdoing.

Her leaders exchange justice for a bribe; her priests teach, but for a price; her prophets divine for money, Yet they have the gall to say as they lean on the Eternal, “He is on our side! Nothing bad will happen to us!”

But they don’t know what the Eternal One is thinking, are not privy to His plans: He has gathered them like sheaves on the floor of a threshing house.

He will be our peace. When the Assyrians invade us, set foot inside our strong palaces, We will raise up more than enough to conquer them— seven shepherds and eight rulers of men.

And with anger and great wrath, I will execute My vengeance against all the nations that have disobeyed Me!

Eternal One: My people, what have I done against you? How have I made you tired of Me? Answer Me!

Can I overlook the treasures of wickedness Stored away in the house of the wicked, the dishonest scales and measures that I hate?

The hands of those who should know better are good at doing evil: the ruler and the judge ask for bribes; The people in power merely mention their deepest desires, and the ruler and judge make sure they happen.

But as for me, I will look to the Eternal One, and my hope is in the True God who will save me. My God will hear me.

I must bear His anger because I have sinned against Him until He argues on my behalf and rights all my wrongs. He will bring me out into the light, and then I will see His saving justice.

When my enemy sees that God has rescued me, then shame will wash over her Because she sneered to me, “Where is the Eternal your God?” It will be my turn to watch when she is trampled, Walked on like mud in the street.