The Lord Calls for Witnesses Against Israel
1People of Israel, listen to the Lord’s message. He has spoken his message against you. He has spoken it against the whole family he brought up out of Egypt. He says,
2“Out of all the families on earth
I have chosen only you.
So I will punish you
because you have committed so many sins.”
3Do two people walk together
unless they’ve agreed to do so?
4Does a lion roar in the bushes
when it doesn’t have any food?
Does it growl in its den
when it hasn’t caught anything?
5Does a bird fly down to a trap on the ground
when no bait is there?
Does a net spring up from the ground
when it has not caught anything?
6When someone blows a trumpet in a city,
don’t the people tremble with fear?
When trouble comes to a city,
hasn’t the Lord caused it?
7The Lord and King never does anything
without telling his servants the prophets about it.
8A lion has roared.
Who isn’t afraid?
The Lord and King has spoken.
Who can do anything but prophesy?
9Speak to the people in the forts of Ashdod and Egypt.
Tell them, “Gather together
on the mountains of Samaria.
Look at the great trouble in that city.
Its people are committing many crimes.”
10“They do not know how to do what is right,”
announces the Lord.
“They store up stolen goods in their forts.”
11So the Lord and King says,
“Enemies will take over your land.
They will pull down your places of safety.
They will rob your forts.”
12The Lord says,
“Suppose a shepherd saves only two leg bones
from a lion’s mouth.
Or he might save only a piece of an ear.
That is how the Israelites living in Samaria will be saved.
They will only have a board
from a bed
and a piece of cloth
from a couch.”
13“Listen to me,” announces the Lord. “Be a witness against the people of Jacob,” says the Lord God who rules over all.
14“I will punish Israel for their sins.
When I do, I will destroy their altars at Bethel.
The horns that stick out from the upper corners
of their main altar will be cut off.
They will fall to the ground.
15I will tear down their winter houses.
I will also pull down their summer houses.
The houses they have decorated with ivory will be destroyed.
And their princely houses will be torn down,”
announces the Lord.
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, 2You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.3.2 punish: Heb. visit upon 3Can two walk together, except they be agreed? 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?3.4 cry: Heb. give forth his voice 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? 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?3.6 be afraid: or, run together?3.6 the LORD…: or, shall not the LORD do somewhat? 7Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. 8The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
9¶ Publish 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.3.9 oppressed: or, oppressions 10For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.3.10 robbery: or, spoil 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. 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.3.12 taketh: Heb. delivereth3.12 in Damascus…: or, on the bed’s feet 13Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts, 14That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Beth-el: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.3.14 visit: or, punish Israel for 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.
