Parallel Verses

The Emphasized Bible

Of wickedness with both hands to make sure, the ruler, doth make demand - and the judge - for a recompense, - and, as for the great man, he, is putting into words the desire of his soul, So have they woven the net!

New American Standard Bible

Concerning evil, both hands do it well.
The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe,
And a great man speaks the desire of his soul;
So they weave it together.

King James Version

That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.

Holman Bible

Both hands are good at accomplishing evil:
the official and the judge demand a bribe;
when the powerful man communicates his evil desire,
they plot it together.

International Standard Version

And speaking of evil, they practice it eagerly with both hands! Both leader and judge demand a bribe, the famous confess their perverted desires, and they scheme together.

A Conservative Version

Their hands are upon that which is evil to do it diligently. The ruler asks, and the judge [is ready] for a bribe. And the great man, he utters the evil desire of his soul. Thus they weave it together.

American Standard Version

Their hands are upon that which is evil to do it diligently; the prince asketh, and the judge is ready for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth the evil desire of his soul: thus they weave it together.

Amplified


Concerning evil, both of their hands pursue it and do it diligently and thoroughly;
The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe,
And a great man speaks the [evil] desire of his soul.
So they twist the course of justice between them.

Bible in Basic English

Their hands are made ready to do evil; the ruler makes requests for money, and the judge is looking for a reward; and the great man gives decisions at his pleasure, and the right is twisted.

Darby Translation

Both hands are for evil, to do it well. The prince asketh, and the judge is there for a reward; and the great man uttereth his soul's greed: and together they combine it.

Julia Smith Translation

For doing evil with the hands to do well, the chief asking, and the judge, for peace; and the great one, he spake the mischief of his soul: and they will entangle it

King James 2000

That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asks, and the judge asks for a bribe; and the great man, he utters his evil desire: so they weave it together.

Lexham Expanded Bible

Their hands [are] upon evil, to do [it] well; the official and the judge ask for the bribe, and the great [man] utters the evil desire of his soul; and they weave [it] together.

Modern King James verseion

Both hands are on evil, to do it well. The ruler asks for a bribe, and the judge also; and the great man speaks the evil desire of his soul. So they weave it together.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

yet they say they do well when they do evil. As the prince will, so sayeth the judge: that he may do him a pleasure again. The great man speaketh what his heart desireth; and the hearers allow him.

NET Bible

They are determined to be experts at doing evil; government officials and judges take bribes, prominent men make demands, and they all do what is necessary to satisfy them.

New Heart English Bible

Their hands are on that which is evil to do it diligently. The ruler and judge ask for a bribe; and the powerful man dictates the evil desire of his soul. Thus they conspire together.

Webster

That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.

World English Bible

Their hands are on that which is evil to do it diligently. The ruler and judge ask for a bribe; and the powerful man dictates the evil desire of his soul. Thus they conspire together.

Youngs Literal Translation

On the evil are both hands to do it well, The prince is asking -- also the judge -- for recompence, And the great -- he is speaking the mischief of his soul, And they wrap it up.

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
with both hands
כּף 
Kaph 
Usage: 192

יטב 
Yatab 
Usage: 115

the prince
שׂר 
Sar 
Usage: 421

שׁאל שׁאל 
Sha'al 
Usage: 172

and the judge
שׁפט 
Shaphat 
Usage: 203

שׁלּם שׁלּוּם 
Shilluwm 
Usage: 3

and the great
גּדל גּדול 
Gadowl 
Usage: 528

דּבר 
Dabar 
Usage: 1142

נפשׁ 
Nephesh 
Usage: 753

Context Readings

Wait Upon Yahweh

2 Perished is the man of lovingkindness out of the earth, and, upright among men, is there none, - they all, for bloodshed, lie in wait. Every man - for his brother, do they hunt as for one devoted to destruction. 3 Of wickedness with both hands to make sure, the ruler, doth make demand - and the judge - for a recompense, - and, as for the great man, he, is putting into words the desire of his soul, So have they woven the net! 4 The best of them, is as a sharp briar, and, the most upright, worse than a thorn hedge, The day of thy watchmen - of thy visitation, hath come, Now, shall be their confusion!

Cross References

Micah 3:11

Her heads, for a bribe, pronounce sentence, and, her priests, for a price, give direction, and, her prophets, for silver, divine, - yet, on Yahweh, they lean, saying, Is not, Yahweh, in our midst? there shall not come upon us, calamity.

Proverbs 4:16-17

For they sleep not, unless they can do mischief, - They rob themselves of their sleep, if they cannot cause someone to stumble,

Amos 5:12

For I know how numerous are your transgressions, and how surpassing your sins, - ye adversaries of the righteous! ye acceptors of a bribe! Even the needy in the gate, have they turned away!

1 Kings 21:9-14

Now she wrote in the letters, saying, - Proclaim ye a fast, and cause Naboth to sit at the head of the people;

Isaiah 1:23

Thy rulers, are unruly, and companions of thieves, Every one of the people, loveth a bribe, and runneth after rewards, - The fatherless, they do not vindicate, And, the plea of the widow, reacheth them not.

Isaiah 26:21

For lo! Yahweh, is coming forth out of his place, To visit the iniquity of earths inhabitant upon him, - Therefore shall the earth unveil her shed-blood, And throw a covering, no longer over her slain.

Jeremiah 3:5

Will he maintain his anger to times age-abiding? Will he keep it perpetually? Lo! thou hast spoken thus but hast done wicked things and had thy way!

Jeremiah 8:10

Therefore, will I give - Their wives to others, Their fields to such as shall take possession of them, For from the least, even unto the greatest, Every one, is, wholly given to extortion: From the prophet even unto the priest, Every one, dealeth, falsely.

Ezekiel 22:6

Lo! the princes of Israel, very man for his own arm, have they been in thee, For the sake of shedding blood.

Ezekiel 22:27

Her rulers within her have been like wolves, rending prey,- In shedding blood In destroying lives, For the sake of getting dishonest gain.

Hosea 4:18

Their drinking-bout, having passed, - they became, unchaste, they loved wildly, a contempt, became her great men.

Matthew 26:15

and said - What are ye willing to give unto me? and, I, unto you, will deliver him up. And they appointed him thirty pieces of silver.

Luke 12:1-2

Amongst which things, when the ten thousands of the multitude were gathered together, so that they were treading one upon another, he began to be saying, unto his disciples, first - Be keeping yourselves free from the leaven of the Pharisees, the which is, hypocrisy.

1 Corinthians 4:5

So then, not before the fitting time, be judging anything, - until the Lord shall come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and, then, the praise shall come to each one, from God.

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain