Yahweh Speaks Against Israel
Hear this word which Yahweh has spoken against you, sons of Israel, against the entire afamily which He brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
2 “aYou only have I known among all the families of the earth;
Therefore I will bpunish you for all your iniquities.”
3 Do two men walk together unless they have made an appointment?
4 Does a alion 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?
5 Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no bait in it?
Does a trap spring up from the earth when it captures nothing at all?
6 If a atrumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble?
If a bcalamity happens in a city has not Yahweh done it?
7 Surely Lord Yahweh does nothing
Unless He areveals His secret counsel
To His slaves the prophets.
8 A alion has roared! Who will not fear?
bLord Yahweh has spoken! cWho can but prophesy?
9 Make it heard on the citadels in aAshdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt and say, “Gather yourselves on the bmountains of Samaria and see the great confusions within her and the coppressions in her midst. 10 But they ado not know how to do what is right,” declares Yahweh, “these who bhoard up violence and devastation in their citadels.”
11 Therefore, thus says Lord Yahweh,
“An aadversary, even one surrounding the land,
Will pull down your strength from you,
And your bcitadels will be plundered.”
12 Thus says Yahweh,
“Just as the shepherd adelivers 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 bcorner of a bed and the ccover of a couch!
13 Hear and atestify 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 aBethel;
The horns of the altar will be cut in pieces,
And they will fall to the ground.
15 I will also strike the awinter house together with the bsummer house;
The houses of civory will also perish,
And the dgreat houses will come to an end,”
Declares Yahweh.