^{17 Ref} Take pleasure in well-doing; let your ways be upright, keep down the cruel, give a right decision for the child who has no father, see to the cause of the widow.

^{18 Ref} Come now, and let us have an argument together, says the Lord: how may your sins which are red like blood be white as snow? how may their dark purple seem like wool?

^{19 Ref} If you will give ear to my word and do it, the good things of the land will be yours;

^{20 Ref} But if your hearts are turned against me, I will send destruction on you by the sword; so the Lord has said.

^{21 Ref} The upright town has become untrue; there was a time when her judges gave right decisions, when righteousness had a resting-place in her, but now she is full of those who take men's lives.

^{22 Ref} Your silver is no longer true metal, your wine is mixed with water.

^{23 Ref} Your chiefs have gone against the Lord, they have become friends of thieves; every one of them is looking for profit and going after rewards; they do not give right decisions for the child who has no father, and they do not let the cause of the widow come before them.

^{24 Ref} For this reason the Lord, the Lord of armies, the Strong One of Israel, has said, I will put an end to my haters, and send punishment on those who are against me;