The foreigners ¹  who reside among you will become higher and higher over you and you will become lower and lower.

Gaze at the heavens and see; consider the clouds, which are higher than you! ¹ 

It is higher ¹  than the heavens – what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol ²  – what can you know?

for just as the sky ¹  is higher than the earth, so my deeds ²  are superior to ³  your deeds and my plans ⁴  superior to your plans.

If you see the extortion ¹  of the poor, or the perversion ²  of justice and fairness in the government, ³  do not be astonished by the matter. For the high official is watched by a higher official, ⁴  and there are higher ones over them! ⁵ 

I prayed, ¹  “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face to you, my God! For our iniquities have climbed higher than our heads, and our guilt extends to the heavens.

After this Manasseh ¹  built up the outer wall of the City of David ²  on the west side of the Gihon in the valley to the entrance of the Fish Gate and all around the terrace; he made it much higher. He placed army officers in all the fortified cities in Judah.

You say, “When will the new moon festival ¹  be over, ²  so we can sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, ³  so we can open up the grain bins? ⁴  We’re eager ⁵  to sell less for a higher price, ⁶  and to cheat the buyer with rigged scales! ⁷