And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, {that} wickedness {was} there; and the place of righteousness, {that} iniquity {was} there.

Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. {wrong: or, wrested}

Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

Forasmuch therefore as your treading {is} upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them. {pleasant...: Heb. vineyards of desire}

Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity.

The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love {to have it} so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? {bear...: or, take into their hands}

Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness {which} they have prescribed; {that write...: or, to the writers that write grievousness}

How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.

As a cage is full of birds, so {are} their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. {cage: or, coop}

Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,

None calleth for justice, nor {any} pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! {her...: or, gluttonous: Heb. craw}

How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge {asketh} for a reward; and the great {man}, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up. {his...: Heb. the mischief of his soul}

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be {any} that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.

But thou shalt say unto them, This {is} a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth. {correction: or, instruction}

And an host was given {him} against the daily {sacrifice} by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered. {an host...: or, the host was given over for the transgression against the daily sacrifice}

Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place {such} over them, {to be} rulers of thousands, {and} rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.

And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, {that} wickedness {was} there; and the place of righteousness, {that} iniquity {was} there.

The way of peace they know not; and {there is} no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace. {judgment: or, right}

{It is} not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.