22:23-31 All orders and degrees of men had helped to fill the measure of the nation's guilt. The people that had any power abused it, and even the buyers and sellers find some way to oppress one another. It bodes ill to a people when judgments are breaking in upon them, and the spirit of prayer is restrained. Let all who fear God, unite to promote his truth and righteousness; as wicked men of every rank and profession plot together to run them down.
I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath; by the sword, famine, pestilence, and captivity:
their own way have I recompensed on their heads, saith the Lord; brought just punishment upon them, such as their ways and works deserved;
"the vengeance of their way,''
as the Targum.