26 ‘For among My people are found wicked men;
They (A)lie in wait as one who sets snares;
They set a trap;
They catch men.
27 As a cage is full of birds,
So their houses are full of deceit.
Therefore they have become great and grown rich.
28 They have grown (B)fat, they are sleek;
Yes, they [a]surpass the deeds of the wicked;
They do not plead (C)the cause,
The cause of the fatherless;
(D)Yet they prosper,
And the right of the needy they do not defend.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 5:28 Or pass over or overlook

26 “Among my people are the wicked(A)
    who lie in wait(B) like men who snare birds
    and like those who set traps(C) to catch people.
27 Like cages full of birds,
    their houses are full of deceit;(D)
they have become rich(E) and powerful
28     and have grown fat(F) and sleek.
Their evil deeds have no limit;
    they do not seek justice.
They do not promote the case of the fatherless;(G)
    they do not defend the just cause of the poor.(H)

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That they may successfully do evil with both hands—
The prince asks for gifts,
The judge seeks a (A)bribe,
And the great man utters his evil desire;
So they scheme together.

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Both hands are skilled in doing evil;(A)
    the ruler demands gifts,
the judge accepts bribes,(B)
    the powerful dictate what they desire—
    they all conspire together.

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