5. The people will treat each other harshly;men will oppose each other;neighbors will fight.Youths will proudly defy the elderlyand riffraff will challenge those who were once respected.
6. Indeed, a man will grab his brotherright in his father’s house and say,‘You own a coat – you be our leader!This heap of ruins will be under your control.’
7. At that time the brother will shout,‘I am no doctor,I have no food or coat in my house;don’t make me a leader of the people!’”
8. Jerusalem certainly stumbles,Judah falls,for their words and their actions offend the Lord;they rebel against his royal authority.
9. The look on their faces testifies to their guilt;like the people of Sodom they openly boast of their sin.Too bad for them!For they bring disaster on themselves.
10. Tell the innocent it will go well with them,for they will be rewarded for what they have done.
11. Too bad for the wicked sinners!For they will get exactly what they deserve.
12. Oppressors treat my people cruelly;creditors rule over them.My people’s leaders mislead them;they give you confusing directions.
13. The Lord takes his position to judge;he stands up to pass sentence on his people.
14. The Lord comes to pronounce judgment on the leaders of his people and their officials.He says, “It is you who have ruined the vineyard!You have stashed in your houses what you have stolen from the poor.
15. Why do you crush my people and grind the faces of the poor?”The sovereign Lord who commands armies has spoken.