# The best of them is like a brier, the most upright is worse than a thorn hedge

Briers and thorns are good for nothing and harm those who touch them. The Israelite rulers and judges did nothing good and harmed people.

# the most upright

"those of them who try hardest to do what is good"

# It is the day foretold by your watchmen, the day of your punishment

"Their prophets have told them that Yahweh would punish them"

# Now is the time of their confusion

"Now is when they do not understand what is happening"