And the young men who had been brought up with him, who stood before his face, spoke to him, saying, Thus shall you say to this people who have spoken to you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, and would you now lighten it from off us. Thus shall say to them: My little [finger shall be] thicker than my father's loins.

And he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

But as for the former acts of extortion in which [those who were] before me oppressed them, they even took of them their last money, forty shekels for bread and wine; and the [very] outcasts of them exercised authority over the people; but I did not so, because of the fear of God.

So I returned, and saw all the oppressions that were done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of them that oppressed them was power; but they had no comforter.

O My people, your exactors strip you, and extortioners rule over you; O My people, they that pronounce you blessed lead you astray, and pervert the path of your feet.

Hear this word, you heifers of the land of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, that oppress the poor and trample on the needy, which say to their masters, Give us, that we may drink.

Also you shall select for yourself able men out of all the people, God fearing [men], righteous men, hating pride, and you shall set over the people captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties, and captains of tens.

He that walks in righteousness, speaking rightly, hating transgression and iniquity, and shaking his hands from gifts, stopping his ears that he should not hear the judgment of blood, shutting his eyes that he should not see injustice.

He shall dwell in a high cave of a strong rock; bread shall be given to him, and his water shall be sure.

Shall you reign because you are provoked with your father Ahaz? They shall not eat, and they shall not drink: it is better for you to execute justice and righteousness.

Behold, your eyes are not good, nor your heart, but [they go] after your covetousness, and after the innocent blood to shed it, and after acts of injustice and slaughter, to commit them.