Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 5:26-28

"For among my people are found wicked men: they watch, as fowlers lie in wait; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxed rich. They are waxed fat, they shine: yea, they overpass in deeds of wickedness; they plead not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, that they may prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge." — Jeremiah 5:26-28 (ASV)

1. Here, the prophet speaks of the guilt of the rulers, which is frequently the cause of the guilt of their subjects. Therefore, he says, for wicked men are found in my people, lying in wait.

   Concerning this, he makes two points. First, he declares their guilt regarding their violation of justice. Second, he addresses their perversity of doctrine, as mentioned in the verse, wondrous and amazing things are done in the land (Jeremiah 5:30).

   Regarding the first point—their violation of justice—he makes two further points. First, he shows their injustice in their fraudulent oppression of the poor, which is described as lying in wait. As the psalmist says, He lies in wait that he may take the poor (Psalms 10:29).

   Their houses are filled with treachery, meaning with riches they have obtained by guile. This deceit leads to the multiplication of their wealth: for this reason, they have grown great in honors and become rich in possessions. As it says later, as the partridge has hatched what she did not lay, so he who has gotten riches, and not by judgment (Jeremiah 17:11).

   Their riches also lead to a multiplication of their sins: they have transgressed. As it is written, The beloved has grown thick and kicked, thickened and fattened, enlarged (Deuteronomy 32:15).

   Second, he shows their injustice as it pertains to their lack of just judgment, specifically concerning the cause of the widow. As Isaiah says, They do not judge for the orphan, and the cause of the widow does not come in before them (Isaiah 1:23).