24 They have not said to themselves,

‘Let’s fear the Lord our God,c

who gives the seasonal rains, both autumn and spring,d

who guarantees to us the fixed weeks of the harvest.’

25 Your guilty acts have diverted these things from you.

Your sins have withheld my bounty from you,e

26 for wicked men live among my people.

They watch like huntersA lying in wait.B,f

They set a trap;g

they catch men.

27 Like a cage full of birds,

so their houses are full of deceit.h

Therefore they have grown powerful and rich.

28 They have become fati and sleek.

They have also excelled in evil matters.

They have not taken up cases,

such as the case of the fatherless, so they might prosper,

and they have not defended the rights of the needy.j

29 Should I not punish them for these things?

This is the Lord’s declaration.

Should I not avenge myselfk

on such a nation as this?