18 The righteous therefore shall suffer strait things, and hope for wide: but they that have done wickedly have suffered the strait things, and yet shall not see the wide.
19 And he said to me, You are not a judge above God, neither have you understanding above the Most High.
20 Yes, rather let many that now be perish, than that the law of God which is set before them be despised.
21 For God straitly commanded such as came, even as they came, what they should do to live, and what they should observe to avoid punishment.
22 Nevertheless they were not obedient to him; but spoke against him, and imagined for themselves vain things;
23 and framed cunning devices of wickedness; and said moreover of the Most High, that he is not; and knew not his ways:
24 but they despised his law, and denied his covenants; they have not been faithful to his statutes, and have not performed his works.