The Lord Laments That He Has No Choice But to Judge Them

9:3 The Lord says,7

“These people are like soldiers who have readied their bows.

Their tongues are always ready to shoot out lies.8

They have become powerful in the land,

but they have not done so by honest means.9

Indeed, they do one evil thing after another10

and do not pay attention to me.11

9:4 Everyone must be on his guard around his friends.

He must not even trust any of his relatives.12

For every one of them will find some way to cheat him.13

And all of his friends will tell lies about him.

9:5 One friend deceives another

and no one tells the truth.

These people have trained themselves14 to tell lies.

They do wrong and are unable to repent.

9:6 They do one act of violence after another,

and one deceitful thing after another.15

They refuse to pay attention to me,”16

says the Lord.

9:7 Therefore the Lord who rules over all says,17

“I will now purify them in the fires of affliction18 and test them.

The wickedness of my dear people19 has left me no choice.

What else can I do?20

9:8 Their tongues are like deadly arrows.21

They are always telling lies.22

Friendly words for their neighbors come from their mouths.

But their minds are thinking up ways to trap them.23

9:9 I will certainly punish them for doing such things!” says the Lord.

“I will certainly bring retribution on such a nation as this!”24