1 Woe to those who make unjust laws,

to those who issue oppressive decrees,

2 to deprive the poor of their rights

and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people,

making widows their prey

and robbing the fatherless.

1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, And that write grievousness which they have prescribed; 2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, And to take away the right from the poor of my people, That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless!

1 What sorrow awaits the unjust judges

and those who issue unfair laws.

2 They deprive the poor of justice

and deny the rights of the needy among my people.

They prey on widows

and take advantage of orphans.

1 “Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees,

Who write misfortune,

Which they have prescribed

2 To rob the needy of justice,

And to take what is right from the poor of My people,

That widows may be their prey,

And that they may rob the fatherless.

1 How terrible it will be for those who make unfair laws,

and those who write laws that make life hard for people.

2 They are not fair to the poor,

and they rob my people of their rights.

They allow people to steal from widows

and to take from orphans what really belongs to them.

1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers that write perverseness; 2 to turn aside the needy from justice, and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!

1 Woe unto them that decree iniquitous decrees, and to the writers that prescribe oppression, 2 to turn away the poor from judgment, and to take away the right from the afflicted of my people; that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!

1 How horrible it will be for those who make unjust laws 

and who make oppressive regulations. 

2 They deprive the poor of justice. 

They take away the rights of the needy among my people. 

They prey on widows and rob orphans. 

1 Woe to those enacting crooked statutes

and writing oppressive laws

2 to keep the poor from getting a fair trial

and to deprive the afflicted among my people of justice,

so that widows can be their spoil

and they can plunder the fatherless.

1 Ah, you who make iniquitous decrees,

who write oppressive statutes,

2 to turn aside the needy from justice

and to rob the poor of my people of their right,

that widows may be your spoil,

and that you may make the orphans your prey!

1 Ah! Those who decree decrees of evil,

and writers who have written harm,

2 to guide the needy away from legal claims,

and to rob the justice from the poor of my people,

to make widows their spoil;

and they plunder orphans.

1 How terrible it will be for you

who make laws that aren’t fair!

How terrible for you

who write laws that make life hard for others!

2 You take away the rights of poor people.

You hold back what is fair from my people who are suffering.

You take for yourselves what belongs to widows.

You rob children whose fathers have died.

1 Woe to those who enact evil statutes

And to those who constantly record unjust decisions,

2 So as to deprive the needy of justice

And rob the poor of My people of their rights,

So that widows may be their spoil

And that they may plunder the orphans.