15. The head is the elder, the honored one; the tail is the prophet, the lying teacher.
16. The leaders of the people mislead them,and those they mislead are swallowed up.
17. Therefore the Lord does not rejoiceover Israel’s young menand has no compassionon its fatherless and widows,for everyone is a godless evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly.In all this, His anger is not removed,and His hand is still raised to strike.
18. For wickedness burns like a fire that consumes thorns and briersand kindles the forest thicketsso that they go up in a column of smoke.