4. “Beware of your neighbor!Don’t even trust your brother!For brother takes advantage of brother,and friend slanders friend.
5. They all fool and defraud each other;no one tells the truth.With practiced tongues they tell lies;they wear themselves out with all their sinning.
6. They pile lie upon lieand utterly refuse to acknowledge me,”says the lord.
7. Therefore, this is what the lord of Heaven’s Armies says:“See, I will melt them down in a crucibleand test them like metal.What else can I do with my people?
8. For their tongues shoot lies like poisoned arrows.They speak friendly words to their neighborswhile scheming in their heart to kill them.
9. Should I not punish them for this?” says the lord.“Should I not avenge myself against such a nation?”