6  Seek the Lord and live,

^qlest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph,

and it devour, with none to quench it for Bethel,

7  O you who ^rturn justice to wormwood¹

and cast down righteousness to the earth!

10  They hate him who ^xreproves in the gate,

and they abhor him who speaks the truth.

11  Therefore because you trample on¹ the poor

and you exact taxes of grain from him,

^yyou have built houses of hewn stone,

but you shall not dwell in them;

^zyou have planted pleasant vineyards,

but you shall not drink their wine.

12  For I know how many are your transgressions

and how great are your sins—

you who afflict the righteous, who take a ^abribe,

and turn aside the needy in the gate.

13  Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time,

^bfor it is an evil time.

14  Seek good, and not evil,

that you may live;

and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you,

as you have said.

15  ^cHate evil, and love good,

and establish justice in the gate;

^dit may be that the Lord, the God of hosts,

will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.