²³ Your rulers are rebels,
friends of thieves.^(A)
They all love a bribe
and chase after backhanders.^(B)
They do not defend the rights of the fatherless,
and the widow’s case never comes before them.^(C)

⁷ For the vineyard of the Lord of Armies
is the house of Israel,^(A)
and the men^[a] of Judah,
the plant he delighted in.
He expected justice
but saw injustice;
he expected righteousness
but heard cries of despair.

³ You dismiss any thought of the evil day^(A)
and bring in a reign of violence.^(B)

2 Woe to those who dream up wickedness
and prepare evil plans^(A) on their beds!
At morning light^(B) they accomplish it
because the power is in their hands.^(C)
2 They covet fields^(D) and seize them;^(E)
they also take houses.
They deprive a man of his home,^(F)
a person of his inheritance.^(G)