^{4 Ref} Let everyone keep watch on his neighbour, and put no faith in any brother: for every brother will certainly be tricking his brother, and every neighbour will go about saying evil.

^{5 Ref} Everyone will make sport of his neighbour with deceit, not saying what is true: their tongues have been trained to say false words; they are twisted, hating to come back.

^{6 Ref} There is wrong on wrong, deceit on deceit; they have given up the knowledge of me, says the Lord.

^{7 Ref} So the Lord of armies has said, See, I will make them soft in the fire and put them to the test; this I will do because of their evil-doing.

^{8 Ref} His tongue is an arrow causing death; the words of his mouth are deceit: he says words of peace to his neighbour, but in his heart he is waiting secretly for him.

^{9 Ref} Am I not to send punishment for these things? says the Lord: will not my soul take payment from such a nation as this?