The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted.

因此律法放松，公理也不显明；恶人围困义人，所以公理显然颠倒。”

因此律法无效，公理从未彰显。恶人围困义人，所以公理遭受扭曲。

因此律法无效，公理从未彰显。恶人围困义人，所以公理遭受扭曲。

因此律法失效，正义不彰，恶人包围义人，正义被扭曲。

因此律法不能生效（“律法不能生效”原文作“律法松懈”），公理无法彰显。因为恶人把义人包围，所以公理颠倒。

因此律法放鬆，公理也不顯明；惡人圍困義人，所以公理顯然顛倒。

因此律法無效，公理從未彰顯。惡人圍困義人，所以公理遭受扭曲。

因此律法無效，公理從未彰顯。惡人圍困義人，所以公理遭受扭曲。

因此律法失效，正義不彰，惡人包圍義人，正義被扭曲。

因此律法不能生效（“律法不能生效”原文作“律法鬆懈”），公理無法彰顯。因為惡人把義人包圍，所以公理顛倒。

因此律法僵化，公理總不出現。因為惡人圍困着義人，故此公理就使出現、也彎曲了。

緣此法律廢弛、公義不彰、惡者環繞義人、公義顯然違反、

惡者枉法、環攻義人、律例俱廢、伸其冤者、卒無一人。

緣此律法已廢、是非不循理而決、惡者圍攻善人、以致曲直顛倒、○

Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.

The law can’t do what it’s supposed to do. Fairness never comes out on top. Sinful people surround those who do what is right. So people are never treated fairly.

So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted.

This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted.

Therefore the Law is ignored, And justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore justice comes out confused.

Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.

Therefore the law is slacked, and justice doth never go forth; for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore justice goeth forth perverted.

This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted.

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

For this reason the law lacks power, and justice is never carried out. Indeed, the wicked intimidate the innocent. For this reason justice is perverted.

Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails; for the wicked surround the righteous; therefore justice comes out perverted.

See how Jerusalem, once so faithful, has become a prostitute. Once the home of justice and righteousness, she is now filled with murderers.Once like pure silver, you have become like worthless slag. Once so pure, you are now like watered down wine.Your leaders are rebels, the companions of thieves. All of them love bribes and demand payoffs, but they refuse to defend the cause of orphans or fight for the rights of widows.

“ Why do the wicked prosper, growing old and powerful?

Lord, it is time for you to act, for these evil people have violated your instructions.

Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you. So let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy?

Then he said to me,“ The sins of the people of Israel and Judah are very, very great. The entire land is full of murder; the city is filled with injustice. They are saying,‘ The Lord doesn’t see it! The Lord has abandoned the land!’

Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side— leaders whose decrees permit injustice?They gang up against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

“ In a lawsuit, you must not deny justice to the poor.

We know we have rebelled and have denied the Lord. We have turned our backs on our God. We know how unfair and oppressive we have been, carefully planning our deceitful lies.Our courts oppose the righteous, and justice is nowhere to be found. Truth stumbles in the streets, and honesty has been outlawed.Yes, truth is gone, and anyone who renounces evil is attacked. The Lord looked and was displeased to find there was no justice.

Justice— do you rulers know the meaning of the word? Do you judge the people fairly?No! You plot injustice in your hearts. You spread violence throughout the land.

They spout empty words and make covenants they don’t intend to keep. So injustice springs up among them like poisonous weeds in a farmer’s field.

Your princes plot conspiracies just as lions stalk their prey. They devour innocent people, seizing treasures and extorting wealth. They make many widows in the land.Your priests have violated my instructions and defiled my holy things. They make no distinction between what is holy and what is not. And they do not teach my people the difference between what is ceremonially clean and unclean. They disregard my Sabbath days so that I am dishonored among them.Your leaders are like wolves who tear apart their victims. They actually destroy people’s lives for money!And your prophets cover up for them by announcing false visions and making lying predictions. They say,‘ My message is from the Sovereign Lord,’ when the Lord hasn’t spoken a single word to them.Even common people oppress the poor, rob the needy, and deprive foreigners of justice.“ I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.

“ You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice.

What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.

You must never twist justice or show partiality. Never accept a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and corrupt the decisions of the godly.

For I know the vast number of your sins and the depth of your rebellions. You oppress good people by taking bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.

Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.

Very early in the morning the leading priests and the elders of the people met again to lay plans for putting Jesus to death.Then they bound him, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.

Like a cage filled with birds, their homes are filled with evil plots. And now they are great and rich.They are fat and sleek, and there is no limit to their wicked deeds. They refuse to provide justice to orphans and deny the rights of the poor.Should I not punish them for this?” says the Lord.“ Should I not avenge myself against such a nation?

The godly people have all disappeared; not one honest person is left on the earth. They are all murderers, setting traps even for their own brothers.Both their hands are equally skilled at doing evil! Officials and judges alike demand bribes. The people with influence get what they want, and together they scheme to twist justice.Even the best of them is like a brier; the most honest is as dangerous as a hedge of thorns. But your judgment day is coming swiftly now. Your time of punishment is here, a time of confusion.

“ Therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. But you will kill some by crucifixion, and you will flog others with whips in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city.As a result, you will be held responsible for the murder of all godly people of all time— from the murder of righteous Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you killed in the Temple between the sanctuary and the altar.I tell you the truth, this judgment will fall on this very generation.

How long, O Lord? How long will the wicked be allowed to gloat?

Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One— the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered.

What sorrow awaits you who lie awake at night, thinking up evil plans. You rise at dawn and hurry to carry them out, simply because you have the power to do so.When you want a piece of land, you find a way to seize it. When you want someone’s house, you take it by fraud and violence. You cheat a man of his property, stealing his family’s inheritance.

But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?

Then he said,“ You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition.

Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death.But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, they could not use anyone’s testimony. Finally, two men came forwardwho declared,“ This man said,‘ I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus,“ Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?”But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him,“ I demand in the name of the living God— tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”Jesus replied,“ You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said,“ Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy.What is your verdict?”“ Guilty!” they shouted.“ He deserves to die!”

The next morning a group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.There were more than forty of them in the conspiracy.They went to the leading priests and elders and told them,“ We have bound ourselves with an oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul.

I said,“ Listen, you leaders of Israel! You are supposed to know right from wrong,but you are the very ones who hate good and love evil. You skin my people alive and tear the flesh from their bones.Yes, you eat my people’s flesh, strip off their skin, and break their bones. You chop them up like meat for the cooking pot.

“ That’s not true!” Jeremiah protested.“ I had no intention of doing any such thing.” But Irijah wouldn’t listen, and he took Jeremiah before the officials.They were furious with Jeremiah and had him flogged and imprisoned in the house of Jonathan the secretary. Jonathan’s house had been converted into a prison.Jeremiah was put into a dungeon cell, where he remained for many days.

Rescue me from these criminals; save me from these murderers.

As they stoned him, Stephen prayed,“ Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

And all the people yelled back,“ We will take responsibility for his death— we and our children!”So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.

When King Jehoiakim and the army officers and officials heard what he was saying, the king sent someone to kill him. But Uriah heard about the plan and escaped in fear to Egypt.Then King Jehoiakim sent Elnathan son of Acbor to Egypt along with several other men to capture Uriah.They took him prisoner and brought him back to King Jehoiakim. The king then killed Uriah with a sword and had him buried in an unmarked grave.

I have done nothing wrong, yet they prepare to attack me. Wake up! See what is happening and help me!

The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?”

But when Jeremiah had finished his message, saying everything the Lord had told him to say, the priests and prophets and all the people at the Temple mobbed him.“ Kill him!” they shouted.

God presides over heaven’s court; he pronounces judgment on the heavenly beings:“ How long will you hand down unjust decisions by favoring the wicked? Interlude“ Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people.But these oppressors know nothing; they are so ignorant! They wander about in darkness, while the whole world is shaken to the core.

Then the two scoundrels came and sat down across from him. And they accused Naboth before all the people, saying,“ He cursed God and the king.” So he was dragged outside the town and stoned to death.

My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet.

So these officials went to the king and said,“ Sir, this man must die! That kind of talk will undermine the morale of the few fighting men we have left, as well as that of all the people. This man is a traitor!”King Zedekiah agreed.“ All right,” he said.“ Do as you like. I can’t stop you.”So the officials took Jeremiah from his cell and lowered him by ropes into an empty cistern in the prison yard. It belonged to Malkijah, a member of the royal family. There was no water in the cistern, but there was a thick layer of mud at the bottom, and Jeremiah sank down into it.

Even your brothers, members of your own family, have turned against you. They plot and raise complaints against you. Do not trust them, no matter how pleasantly they speak.

It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.Your hands are the hands of murderers, and your fingers are filthy with sin. Your lips are full of lies, and your mouth spews corruption.No one cares about being fair and honest. The people’s lawsuits are based on lies. They conceive evil deeds and then give birth to sin.They hatch deadly snakes and weave spiders’ webs. Whoever eats their eggs will die; whoever cracks them will hatch a viper.Their webs can’t be made into clothing, and nothing they do is productive. All their activity is filled with sin, and violence is their trademark.Their feet run to do evil, and they rush to commit murder. They think only about sinning. Misery and destruction always follow them.They don’t know where to find peace or what it means to be just and good. They have mapped out crooked roads, and no one who follows them knows a moment’s peace.

You twist justice, making it a bitter pill for the oppressed. You treat the righteous like dirt.