4. Then I said, Surely these are poor: they are foolish; for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of their God:
5. I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they know the way of the Lord, and the judgment of their God. But these with one accord have broken the yoke, and burst the bands.
6. Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities, every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.
7. How can I pardon thee? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they committed adultery, and assembled themselves in troops at the harlots' houses.
8. They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife,
9. shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
10. Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her branches: for they are not the Lord'S.
11. For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the Lord.
12. They have denied the Lord, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine: