“What right have you to recite my laws
    or take my covenant^(A) on your lips?^(B)

¹⁷ You hate^(A) my instruction
    and cast my words behind^(B) you.

²⁹ since they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord.^(A)

³⁰ Since they would not accept my advice
    and spurned my rebuke,^(A)

¹³ Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,^(A)
    but whoever respects^(B) a command is rewarded.^(C)

²⁴ Therefore, as tongues of fire^(A) lick up straw^(B)
    and as dry grass sinks down in the flames,
so their roots will decay^(C)
    and their flowers blow away like dust;^(D)
for they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty
    and spurned the word^(E) of the Holy One^(F) of Israel.

⁹ “Who is it he is trying to teach?^(A)
    To whom is he explaining his message?^(B)
To children weaned^(C) from their milk,^(D)
    to those just taken from the breast?
¹⁰ For it is:
    Do this, do that,
    a rule for this, a rule for that^[a];
    a little here, a little there.^(E)”

¹¹ Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues^(F)
    God will speak to this people,^(G)
12 to whom he said,
    “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”;^(H)
and, “This is the place of repose”—
    but they would not listen.
¹³ So then, the word of the Lord to them will become:
    Do this, do that,
    a rule for this, a rule for that;
    a little here, a little there^(I)—
so that as they go they will fall backward;
    they will be injured^(J) and snared and captured.^(K)

¹⁴ Therefore hear the word of the Lord,^(L) you scoffers^(M)
    who rule this people in Jerusalem.