Rulers Denounced

      1 And I said,
          “Hear now, heads of Jacob
          And rulers of the house of Israel.
          Is it not for you to know justice?

2 “You who hate good and love evil,
          Who tear off their skin from them
          And their flesh from their bones,

3 Who eat the flesh of my people,
          Strip off their skin from them,
          Break their bones
          And chop them up as for the pot
          And as meat in a kettle.”

4 Then they will cry out to the LORD,
          But He will not answer them.
          Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time
          Because they have practiced evil deeds.

      5 Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray;
          When they have something to bite with their teeth,
          They cry, “Peace,”
          But against him who puts nothing in their mouths
          They declare holy war.

6 Therefore it will be night for you—without vision,
          And darkness for you—without divination.
          The sun will go down on the prophets,
          And the day will become dark over them.

7 The seers will be ashamed
          And the diviners will be embarrassed.
          Indeed, they will all cover their mouths
          Because there is no answer from God.

8 On the other hand I am filled with power—
          With the Spirit of the LORD—
          And with justice and courage
          To make known to Jacob his rebellious act,
          Even to Israel his sin.

9 Now hear this, heads of the house of Jacob
          And rulers of the house of Israel,
          Who abhor justice
          And twist everything that is straight,

10 Who build Zion with bloodshed
          And Jerusalem with violent injustice.

11 Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe,
          Her priests instruct for a price
          And her prophets divine for money.
          Yet they lean on the LORD saying,
          “Is not the LORD in our midst?
          Calamity will not come upon us.”

12 Therefore, on account of you
          Zion will be plowed as a field,
          Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins,
          And the mountain of the temple will become high places of a forest.