Behold the princes of Israel, every one hath employed his arm in thee to shed blood.

Behold, the princes of Israel have been in thee to shed blood, each according to his power.

Lo, princes of Israel, each according to his arm Have been in thee to shed blood.

See, the rulers of Israel, every one in his family, have been causing death in you.

Behold, the princes of Israel, every one according to his might, have been in thee to shed blood.

Behold, the leaders of Israel have each used his arm to shed blood within you.

Render it: Behold the princes of Israel, each according to his might (literally "arm") have been in thee in order to shed blood. They looked to might not right.

Behold, the princes - Ye are a vile and murderous people, and your princes have been of the same character. Like people, like prince.

Behold, the princes of Israel,.... Those that belonged to the royal family, or the nobles of the land, or the members of the grand sanhedrim of the nation:
everyone were in thee to their power to shed blood; everyone exerted himself to the uttermost, according to his ability, to shed blood, or cause it to be shed; everyone strove, as it were, who should shed most, to exceed each other in this abominable sin.

Rather, "The princes . . . each according to his power, were in thee, to shed blood" (as if this was the only object of their existence). "Power," literally, "arm"; they, who ought to have been patterns of justice, made their own arm of might their only law.

Every one - Not one to be found of a more merciful temper. To their power - According to their ability.