For the inhabitant of Maroth waits anxiously for good, because evil has come down from LORD to the gate of Jerusalem.

Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil upon their beds! When the morning is light they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand.

Therefore thus says LORD: Behold, I devise an evil against this family, from which ye shall not remove your necks, nor shall ye walk haughtily, for it is an evil time.

Ye who hate the good, and love the evil, who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones,

Then they shall cry to LORD, but he will not answer them. Yea, he will hide his face from them at that time, according as they have wrought evil in their doings.

The heads of it judge for a bribe, and the priests of it teach for a wage, and the prophets of it divine for money. Yet they lean upon LORD, and say, Is not LORD in the midst of us? No evil shall come upon us.

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.