Their enemies, corrupt as Sodom and Gomorrah, are like vines that bear bitter and poisonous grapes,

like wine made from the venom of snakes.

The city that once was faithful is behaving like a whore! At one time it was filled with righteous people, but now only murderers remain.

Jerusalem, you were once like silver, but now you are worthless; you were like good wine, but now you are only water.

I planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. But look what you have become! You are like a rotten, worthless vine.

They make promises and break them; they lie, murder, steal, and commit adultery. Crimes increase, and there is one murder after another.

You will eat your share of the sacrifices, but still be hungry. You will worship the fertility gods, but still have no children, because you have turned away from me to follow other gods."

Samaria fell because the Israelites sinned against the LORD their God, who had rescued them from the king of Egypt and had led them out of Egypt. They worshiped other gods,

The Israelites did things that the LORD their God disapproved of. They built pagan places of worship in all their towns, from the smallest village to the largest city.

and they burned incense on all the pagan altars, following the practice of the people whom the LORD had driven out of the land. They aroused the LORD's anger with all their wicked deeds

The LORD had sent his messengers and prophets to warn Israel and Judah: "Abandon your evil ways and obey my commands, which are contained in the Law I gave to your ancestors and which I handed on to you through my servants the prophets."

They refused to obey his instructions, they did not keep the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and they disregarded his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves, and they followed the customs of the surrounding nations, disobeying the LORD's command not to imitate them.

They sacrificed their sons and daughters as burnt offerings to pagan gods; they consulted mediums and fortunetellers, and they devoted themselves completely to doing what is wrong in the LORD's sight, and so aroused his anger.

Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe makes people blind to what is right and ruins the cause of those who are innocent.

They are not to be unjust or show partiality in their judgments; and they are not to accept bribes, for gifts blind the eyes even of wise and honest men, and cause them to give wrong decisions.

But they did not follow their father's example; they were interested only in making money, so they accepted bribes and did not decide cases honestly.

Here I am. If I have done anything wrong, accuse me now in the presence of the LORD and the king he has chosen. Have I taken anybody's cow or anybody's donkey? Have I cheated or oppressed anyone? Have I accepted a bribe from anyone? If I have done any of these things, I will pay back what I have taken."

The people answered, "No, you have not cheated us or oppressed us; you have not taken anything from anyone."

A leech has two daughters, and both are named "Give me!" There are four things that are never satisfied:

the world of the dead, a woman without children, dry ground that needs rain, and a fire burning out of control.

I know how terrible your sins are and how many crimes you have committed. You persecute good people, take bribes, and prevent the poor from getting justice in the courts.

The city's rulers govern for bribes, the priests interpret the Law for pay, the prophets give their revelations for money---and they all claim that the LORD is with them. "No harm will come to us," they say. "The LORD is with us."

They are all experts at doing evil. Officials and judges ask for bribes. The influential people tell them what they want, and so they scheme together.

The rulers of the nations assemble with the people of the God of Abraham. More powerful than all armies is he; he rules supreme.