1 Oh, that I had in the wildernessa travelers’ lodging!That I might leave my peopleand depart from them.They are all adulterers,a band of traitors.
2 They ready their tongues like a drawn bow;with lying, and not with truth,they are powerful in the land.They go from evil to evil,and me they do not know—oracle of the Lord.
3 Be on your guard, everyone against his neighbor;put no trust in any brother.Every brother imitates Jacob, the supplanter,every neighbor is guilty of slander.
4 Each one deceives the other,no one speaks the truth.They have accustomed their tongues to lying,they are perverse and cannot repent.
5 Violence upon violence,deceit upon deceit:They refuse to know me—oracle of the Lord.
6 Therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts:I will refine them and test them;how else should I deal with the daughter of my people?