Oedipus the King Notes | Chorus 3

The elders talk about their dismay at human pride and irreverence, particularly in regard to doubters of the oracles.

Furthermore, they believe that:

"if a man's contemptuous, and goes along with acts and speaks without respect for what is right and doesn't revere statues of gods, then let a sorry fate destroy him - for this perverse pride - since he unjustly reaps rewards, does not respect what's godly." Line 883

The elders then call the gods, especially Zeus, to pay attention to this matter, and not let it slip by. Should they not give it much attention, it will show that there is no apparent honor for the god, Apollo, and that worship is dead and gone.