16 But to the wicked person, God says:

“What right have you to recite my laws

or take my covenant on your lips?

17 You hate my instruction

and cast my words behind you.

18 When you see a thief, you join with him;

you throw in your lot with adulterers.

19 You use your mouth for evil

and harness your tongue to deceit.

20 You sit and testify against your brother

and slander your own mother’s son.

21 When you did these things and I kept silent,

you thought I was exactly like you.

But I now arraign you

and set my accusations before you.

16 But unto the wicked God saith,

What hast thou to do to declare my statutes,

Or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?

17 Seeing thou hatest instruction,

And castest my words behind thee.

18 When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him,

And hast been partaker with adulterers.

19 Thou givest thy mouth to evil,

And thy tongue frameth deceit.

20 Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother;

Thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.

21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence;

Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself:

But I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

16 But God says to the wicked:

“Why bother reciting my decrees

and pretending to obey my covenant?

17 For you refuse my discipline

and treat my words like trash.

18 When you see thieves, you approve of them,

and you spend your time with adulterers.

19 Your mouth is filled with wickedness,

and your tongue is full of lies.

20 You sit around and slander your brother—

your own mother’s son.

21 While you did all this, I remained silent,

and you thought I didn’t care.

But now I will rebuke you,

listing all my charges against you.

16 But to the wicked God says:

“What right have you to declare My statutes,

Or take My covenant in your mouth,

17 Seeing you hate instruction

And cast My words behind you?

18 When you saw a thief, you consented with him,

And have been a partaker with adulterers.

19 You give your mouth to evil,

And your tongue frames deceit.

20 You sit and speak against your brother;

You slander your own mother’s son.

21 These things you have done, and I kept silent;

You thought that I was altogether like you;

But I will rebuke you,

And set them in order before your eyes.

16 But God says to the wicked,

“Why do you talk about my laws?

Why do you mention my agreement?

17 You hate my teachings

and turn your back on what I say.

18 When you see a thief, you join him.

You take part in adultery.

19 You don’t stop your mouth from speaking evil,

and your tongue makes up lies.

20 You speak against your brother

and lie about your mother’s son.

21 I have kept quiet while you did these things,

so you thought I was just like you.

But I will scold you

and accuse you to your face.

16 But unto the wicked God saith,

What hast thou to do to declare my statutes,

And that thou hast taken my covenant in thy mouth,

17 Seeing thou hatest instruction,

And castest my words behind thee?

18 When thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst with him,

And hast been partaker with adulterers.

19 Thou givest thy mouth to evil,

And thy tongue frameth deceit.

20 Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother;

Thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.

21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence;

Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thyself:

But I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

16 But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant into thy mouth, 17 Seeing thou hast hated correction and hast cast my words behind thee? 18 When thou sawest a thief, thou didst take pleasure in him, and thy portion was with adulterers; 19 Thou lettest thy mouth loose to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit; 20 Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother, thou revilest thine own mother’s son: 21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

16 But God says to wicked people, 

“How dare you quote my decrees 

and mouth my promises!

17 You hate discipline. 

You toss my words behind you. 

18 When you see a thief, you want to make friends with him. 

You keep company with people who commit adultery. 

19 You let your mouth say anything evil. 

Your tongue plans deceit. 

20 You sit and talk against your own brother. 

You slander your own mother’s son. 

21 When you did these things, I remained silent. 

⸤That⸥ made you think I was like you. 

I will argue my point with you 

and lay it all out for you to see. 

16 But God says to the wicked:

“What right do you have to recite My statutes

and to take My covenant on your lips?

17 You hate instruction

and turn your back on My words.

18 When you see a thief,

you make friends with him,

and you associate with adulterers.

19 You unleash your mouth for evil

and harness your tongue for deceit.

20 You sit, maligning your brother,

slandering your mother’s son.

21 You have done these things, and I kept silent;

you thought I was just like you.

But I will rebuke you

and lay out the case before you.

16 But to the wicked God says:

“What right have you to recite my statutes,

or take my covenant on your lips?

17 For you hate discipline,

and you cast my words behind you.

18 You make friends with a thief when you see one,

and you keep company with adulterers.

19 “You give your mouth free rein for evil,

and your tongue frames deceit.

20 You sit and speak against your kin;

you slander your own mother’s child.

21 These things you have done and I have been silent;

you thought that I was one just like yourself.

But now I rebuke you, and lay the charge before you.

16 But to the wicked God says,

“What right have you to recite my statutes

and mention my covenant with your mouth,

17 while you yourself hate discipline,

and cast my words behind you?

18 When you see a thief, then you are pleased with him,

and your association is with adulterers.

19 You give your mouth free rein for evil,

and you harness your tongue to deceit.

20 You sit and speak against your brother;

you slander your mother’s son.

21 These things you have done, and I have been silent;

You imagined that I was just like you.

I will rebuke you and present an argument before your eyes.

16 But here is what God says to sinful people.

“What right do you have to speak the words of my laws?

How dare you speak the words of my covenant!

17 You hate my teaching.

You turn your back on what I say.

18 When you see a thief, you join him.

You make friends with those who commit adultery.

19 You use your mouth to speak evil.

You use your tongue to spread lies.

20 You always speak against your brother.

You always tell lies about your own mother’s son.

21 You have done those things, and I kept silent.

So you thought I was just like you.

But now I’m going to correct you.

I will bring charges against you.

16 But to the wicked God says,

“What right have you to tell of My statutes

And to take My covenant in your mouth?

17 “For you hate discipline,

And you cast My words behind you.

18 “When you see a thief, you are pleased with him,

And you associate with adulterers.

19 “You let your mouth loose in evil

And your tongue frames deceit.

20 “You sit and speak against your brother;

You slander your own mother’s son.

21 “These things you have done and I kept silence;

You thought that I was just like you;

I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes.