| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, | 1Hear this word, people of Israel, the word the LORD has spoken against you--against the whole family I brought up out of Egypt: |
| 2You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. | 2"You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins." |
| 3Can two walk together, except they be agreed? | 3Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? |
| 4Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing? | 4Does a lion roar in the thicket when it has no prey? Does it growl in its den when it has caught nothing? |
| 5Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all? | 5Does a bird swoop down to a trap on the ground when no bait is there? Does a trap spring up from the ground if it has not caught anything? |
| 6Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? | 6When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it? |
| 7Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. | 7Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. |
| 8The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy? | 8The lion has roared-- who will not fear? The Sovereign LORD has spoken-- who can but prophesy? |
| 9Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof. | 9Proclaim to the fortresses of Ashdod and to the fortresses of Egypt: "Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria; see the great unrest within her and the oppression among her people." |
| 10For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces. | 10"They do not know how to do right," declares the LORD, "who store up in their fortresses what they have plundered and looted." |
| 11Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled. | 11Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "An enemy will overrun your land, pull down your strongholds and plunder your fortresses." |
| 12Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch. | 12This is what the LORD says: "As a shepherd rescues from the lion's mouth only two leg bones or a piece of an ear, so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued, with only the head of a bed and a piece of fabric from a couch." |
| 13Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts, | 13"Hear this and testify against the descendants of Jacob," declares the Lord, the LORD God Almighty. |
| 14That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground. | 14"On the day I punish Israel for her sins, I will destroy the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground. |
| 15And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD. | 15I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed and the mansions will be demolished," declares the LORD. |
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