| 1Listen, you Israelites, to this message which the LORD is proclaiming against you! This message is for the entire clan I brought up from the land of Egypt: | 1Listen, you Israelites, to this message which the LORD is proclaiming against you! This message is for the entire clan I brought up from the land of Egypt: |
| 2"I have chosen you alone from all the clans of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all your sins." | 2"I have chosen you alone from all the clans of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all your sins." |
| 3Do two walk together without having met? | 3Do two walk together without having met? |
| 4Does a lion roar in the woods if he has not cornered his prey? Does a young lion bellow from his den if he has not caught something? | 4Does a lion roar in the woods if he has not cornered his prey? Does a young lion bellow from his den if he has not caught something? |
| 5Does a bird swoop down into a trap on the ground if there is no bait? Does a trap spring up from the ground unless it has surely caught something? | 5Does a bird swoop down into a trap on the ground if there is no bait? Does a trap spring up from the ground unless it has surely caught something? |
| 6If an alarm sounds in a city, do people not fear? If disaster overtakes a city, is the LORD not responsible? | 6If an alarm sounds in a city, do people not fear? If disaster overtakes a city, is the LORD not responsible? |
| 7Certainly the sovereign LORD does nothing without first revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. | 7Certainly the sovereign LORD does nothing without first revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. |
| 8A lion has roared! Who is not afraid? The sovereign LORD has spoken! Who can refuse to prophesy? | 8A lion has roared! Who is not afraid? The sovereign LORD has spoken! Who can refuse to prophesy? |
| 9Make this announcement in the fortresses of Ashdod and in the fortresses in the land of Egypt. Say this: "Gather on the hills around Samaria! Observe the many acts of violence taking place within the city, the oppressive deeds occurring in it." | 9Make this announcement in the fortresses of Ashdod and in the fortresses in the land of Egypt. Say this: "Gather on the hills around Samaria! Observe the many acts of violence taking place within the city, the oppressive deeds occurring in it." |
| 10"They do not know how to do what is right." (The LORD is speaking.) "They store up the spoils of destructive violence in their fortresses. | 10"They do not know how to do what is right." (The LORD is speaking.) "They store up the spoils of destructive violence in their fortresses. |
| 11Therefore," says the sovereign LORD, "an enemy will encircle the land. He will take away your power; your fortresses will be looted." | 11Therefore," says the sovereign LORD, "an enemy will encircle the land. He will take away your power; your fortresses will be looted." |
| 12This is what the LORD says: "Just as a shepherd salvages from the lion's mouth a couple of leg bones or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites who live in Samaria will be salvaged. They will be left with just a corner of a bed, and a part of a couch." | 12This is what the LORD says: "Just as a shepherd salvages from the lion's mouth a couple of leg bones or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites who live in Samaria will be salvaged. They will be left with just a corner of a bed, and a part of a couch." |
| 13Listen and warn the family of Jacob! The sovereign LORD, the God who commands armies, is speaking! | 13Listen and warn the family of Jacob! The sovereign LORD, the God who commands armies, is speaking! |
| 14"Certainly when I punish Israel for their covenant transgressions, I will destroy Bethel's altars. The horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground. | 14"Certainly when I punish Israel for their covenant transgressions, I will destroy Bethel's altars. The horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground. |
| 15I will destroy both the winter and summer houses. The houses filled with ivory will be ruined, the great houses will be swept away." The LORD is speaking! | 15I will destroy both the winter and summer houses. The houses filled with ivory will be ruined, the great houses will be swept away." The LORD is speaking! |
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