Yahweh Speaks Against Israel

¹Hear this word which Yahweh has spoken against you, sons of Israel, against the entire family which He brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,[#3:1 Nation; #3:1 Lit I]

²“You only have I known among all the families of the earth;

Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

³Do two men walk together unless they have made an appointment?[#3:3 Or agreement]

⁴Does a lion roar in the forest when it has no prey?

Does a young lion give forth its voice from its den unless it has captured something ?

⁵Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no bait in it?[#3:5 Or striker-bar set]

Does a trap spring up from the earth when it captures nothing at all?

⁶If a trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble?

If a calamity happens in a city has not Yahweh done it?

⁷Surely Lord Yahweh does nothing[#3:7 Or For]

Unless He reveals His secret counsel

To His slaves the prophets.

⁸A lion has roared! Who will not fear?

Lord Yahweh has spoken! Who can but prophesy?

⁹Make it heard on the citadels in Ashdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt and say, “Gather yourselves on the mountains of Samaria and see the great confusions within her and the oppressions in her midst.

¹⁰But they do not know how to do what is right,” declares Yahweh, “these who hoard up violence and devastation in their citadels.”[#3:10 The plunder from violence]

¹¹Therefore, thus says Lord Yahweh,

“An adversary, even one surrounding the land,

Will pull down your strength from you,

And your citadels will be plundered.”

¹²Thus says Yahweh,

“Just as the shepherd delivers from the lion’s mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear,

So will the sons of Israel inhabiting Samaria be delivered—

With the corner of a bed and the cover of a couch!

¹³“Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,”

Declares Lord Yahweh, the God of hosts.

¹⁴“For on the day that I punish Israel’s transgressions,

I will also punish the altars of Bethel;

The horns of the altar will be cut in pieces,

And they will fall to the ground.

¹⁵“I will also strike the winter house together with the summer house;[#3:15 Or autumn]

The houses of ivory will also perish,

And the great houses will come to an end,”

Declares Yahweh.