An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin. The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good; even on his bed he plots evil; he commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong.
The LORD looks down from Heaven on the Sons of Men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have altogether become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Will evildoers never learn—those who devour My people as men eat bread, and who do not call on the LORD? There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous: You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge.
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion!
How long must this go on? Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain to set his nest on high, to escape the clutches of ruin! Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by crime! Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies. Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’ Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled! She obeys no one, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the LORD, she does not draw near to her God. Her officials are roaring lions; her rulers are evening wolves, who leave nothing for the morning.
Her prophets are arrogant; they are treacherous men. Her priests profane the Sanctuary and do violence to the Law. The LORD within her is Righteous; He does no wrong. Morning by Morning He dispenses His Justice, and every new day, He does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame. “I have cut off Nations, and their strongholds are demolished. I have left their streets deserted, with no one passing through. Their cities are destroyed; no one is left—no one at all. I said to the city, ‘Surely you will fear Me and accept correction!’ Then her dwelling would not be cut off, nor all My punishments come upon her.
But they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did. Therefore wait for Me, declares the LORD, for the day I will stand up to testify. I have decided to assemble the Nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out My wrath on them—all My fierce anger. The whole World will be consumed by the Fire of My jealous anger.”
The LORD looks down from Heaven on the Sons of Men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have altogether become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Will evildoers never learn—those who devour My people as men eat bread, and who do not call on the LORD? There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous: You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge.
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion!
How long must this go on? Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain to set his nest on high, to escape the clutches of ruin! Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by crime! Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies. Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’ Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled! She obeys no one, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the LORD, she does not draw near to her God. Her officials are roaring lions; her rulers are evening wolves, who leave nothing for the morning.
Her prophets are arrogant; they are treacherous men. Her priests profane the Sanctuary and do violence to the Law. The LORD within her is Righteous; He does no wrong. Morning by Morning He dispenses His Justice, and every new day, He does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame. “I have cut off Nations, and their strongholds are demolished. I have left their streets deserted, with no one passing through. Their cities are destroyed; no one is left—no one at all. I said to the city, ‘Surely you will fear Me and accept correction!’ Then her dwelling would not be cut off, nor all My punishments come upon her.
But they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did. Therefore wait for Me, declares the LORD, for the day I will stand up to testify. I have decided to assemble the Nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out My wrath on them—all My fierce anger. The whole World will be consumed by the Fire of My jealous anger.”