Contemporary English Version 1People of Israel, I rescued you from Egypt. Now listen to my judgment against you. 2Of all nations on earth, you are the only one I have chosen. That's why I will punish you because of your sins. The Work of a Prophet3Can two people walk together without agreeing to meet? 4Does a lion roar in the forest unless it has caught a victim? Does it growl in its den unless it is eating? 5How can anyone catch a bird without using a net? Does a trap spring shut unless something is caught? 6Isn't the whole city frightened when the trumpet signals an attack? Isn't the Lord the one who brings disaster on a city? 7Whatever the Lord God plans to do, he tells his servants, the prophets. 8Everyone is terrified when a lion roars— and ordinary people become prophets when the Lord God speaks. Samaria Is Doomed9Here is a message for the leaders of Philistia+ and Egypt— tell everyone to come together on the hills of Samaria. Let them see the injustice and the lawlessness in that city. 10The Lord has said that they don't even know how to do right. They have become rich from violence and robbery. 11And so the Lord God has sworn that they will be surrounded. Enemies will break through their defenses and steal their treasures. 12The Lord has promised that only a few from Samaria will escape with their lives and with some broken pieces of their beds and couches.+ It will be like when a shepherd rescues two leg bones and part of a sheep's ear from the jaws of a lion.+ The Altars at Bethel13The Lord God All-Powerful told me to speak this message against Jacob's descendants: 14 When I, the Lord, punish Israel for their sins, I will destroy the altars at Bethel. Even the corners of the altar+ will be left in the dirt. 15I will tear down winter homes and summer homes. Houses decorated with ivory and all other mansions will be gone forever. I, the Lord, have spoken! Footnotes: Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®) © 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. Bible text from the Contemporary English Version 2nd Edition (CEV®) is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East, Floor 8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155 (www.americanbible.org). Learn more at www.cev.bible. Discover .BIBLE resources for your ministry at www.get.bible/cev Bible Hub |