⁷ Your country is desolate,^(A)
    your cities burned with fire;^(B)
your fields are being stripped by foreigners^(C)
    right before you,
    laid waste as when overthrown by strangers.^(D)

¹⁵ the elders^(A) and dignitaries^(B) are the head,
    the prophets^(C) who teach lies^(D) are the tail.

¹⁷ Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men,^(A)
    nor will he pity^(B) the fatherless and widows,
for everyone is ungodly^(C) and wicked,^(D)
    every mouth speaks folly.^(E)

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
    his hand is still upraised.^(F)

⁹ Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
    and their tongues take possession of the earth.

¹¹ They say, “How would God know?
    Does the Most High know anything?”