9. With blinding speed and power he destroys the strong,crushing all their defenses.
10. How you hate honest judges!How you despise people who tell the truth!
11. You trample the poor,stealing their grain through taxes and unfair rent.Therefore, though you build beautiful stone houses,you will never live in them.Though you plant lush vineyards,you will never drink wine from them.
12. For I know the vast number of your sinsand the depth of your rebellions.You oppress good people by taking bribesand deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
13. So those who are smart keep their mouths shut,for it is an evil time.
14. Do what is good and run from evilso that you may live!Then the lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper,just as you have claimed.
15. Hate evil and love what is good;turn your courts into true halls of justice.Perhaps even yet the lord God of Heaven’s Armieswill have mercy on the remnant of his people.
16. Therefore, this is what the Lord, the lord God of Heaven’s Armies, says:“There will be crying in all the public squaresand mourning in every street.Call for the farmers to weep with you,and summon professional mourners to wail.