And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.

And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,

Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.

When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!

The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:

The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD.

But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.

Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee to their power to shed blood.

Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.

And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment?

Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.

Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

Destruction and misery are in their ways:

There is no fear of God before their eyes.

The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.

The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.