16 The Lord raised upac judges, who saved them from the power of their marauders, 17 but they did not listen to their judges. Instead, they prostitutedad themselves with other gods, bowing down to them. They quickly turned from the wayae of their ancestors, who had walked in obedience to the Lord’s commands. They did not do as their ancestors did. 18 Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for the Israelites, the Lord was withaf him and saved the people from the power of their enemies while the judge was still alive. The Lord was moved to pity whenever they groaned because of those who were oppressing and afflicting them. 19 Whenever the judge died, the Israelites would act even more corruptlyag than their ancestors, following other gods to serve them and bow in worship to them. They did not turn from their evil practices or their obstinateah ways.