Human plans and God’s plans
1Woe to those who plan iniquity,
to those who plot evil on their beds!
At morning’s light they carry it out
because it is in their power to do it.
2They covet fields and seize them,
and houses, and take them.
They defraud people of their homes,
they rob them of their inheritance.
3Therefore, the Lord says:
‘I am planning disaster against this people,
from which you cannot save yourselves.
You will no longer walk proudly,
for it will be a time of calamity.
4In that day people will ridicule you;
they will taunt you with this mournful song:
“We are utterly ruined;
my people’s possession is divided up.
He takes it from me!
He assigns our fields to traitors.” ’
5Therefore you will have no-one in the assembly of the Lord
to divide the land by lot.
False prophets
6‘Do not prophesy,’ their prophets say.
‘Do not prophesy about these things;
disgrace will not overtake us.’
7You descendants of Jacob, should it be said,
‘Does the Lord become2:7 Or Is the Spirit of the Lord impatient?
Does he do such things?’
‘Do not my words do good
to the one whose ways are upright?
8Lately my people have risen up
like an enemy.
You strip off the rich robe
from those who pass by without a care,
like men returning from battle.
9You drive the women of my people
from their pleasant homes.
You take away my blessing
from their children for ever.
10Get up, go away!
For this is not your resting-place,
because it is defiled,
it is ruined, beyond all remedy.
11If a liar and deceiver comes and says,
“I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,”
that would be just the prophet for this people!
Deliverance promised
12‘I will surely gather all of you, Jacob;
I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel.
I will bring them together like sheep in a sheepfold,
like a flock in its pasture;
the place will throng with people.
13The One who breaks open the way will go up before them;
they will break through the gate and go out.
Their King will pass through before them,
the Lord at their head.’
1Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. 2And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.2.2 oppress: or, defraud 3Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil.
4¶ In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath divided our fields.2.4 a doleful…: Heb. a lamentation of lamentations2.4 turning…: or, instead of restoring 5Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD.
6Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.2.6 Prophesy ye…: or, Prophesy not as they prophesy: Heb. Drop, etc
7¶ O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?2.7 straitened: or, shortened?2.7 uprightly: Heb. upright? 8Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war.2.8 of late: Heb. yesterday2.8 with the: Heb. over against a 9The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.2.9 women: or, wives 10Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction. 11If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.2.11 walking…: or, walk with the wind, and lie falsely
12¶ I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men. 13The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.
