¹² Therefore the Holy One of Israel says:
“Because you have rejected this message
and have trusted in oppression and deceit,
and have depended on them,

⁹ Therefore justice is far from us,
and righteousness does not reach us.
We hope for light, but there is darkness;
for brightness, but we live in the night.
¹⁰ We grope along a wall like the blind;
we grope like those without eyes.^(A)
We stumble at noon as though it were twilight;
we are like the dead among those who are healthy.
¹¹ We all growl like bears
and moan like doves.^(B)
We hope for justice, but there is none;
for salvation, but it is far from us.
¹² For our transgressions have multiplied before you,^(C)
and our sins testify against us.^(D)
For our transgressions are with us,
and we know our iniquities:^(E)
13 transgression and deception against the Lord,
turning away from following our God,
speaking oppression and revolt,
conceiving and uttering lying words from the heart.
¹⁴ Justice is turned back,
and righteousness stands far off.
For truth has stumbled in the public square,
and honesty cannot enter.
¹⁵ Truth is missing,
and whoever turns from evil is plundered.
The Lord saw that there was no justice,
and he was offended.

Cut down the trees;^(A)
raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem.
This city must be punished.
There is nothing but oppression within her.^(B)

¹¹ Her leaders issue rulings for a bribe,^(A)
her priests teach for payment,^(B)
and her prophets practice divination for silver.
Yet they lean on the Lord, saying,
“Isn’t the Lord^(C) among us?
No disaster will overtake us.”

³ Why do you force me to look at injustice?^(A)
Why do you tolerate^[a] wrongdoing?
Oppression and violence are right in front of me.
Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates.