1 H ear 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,

Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt:

2 Y ou only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.

You only have I known (chosen, sympathized with, and loved) of all the families of the earth; therefore I will visit upon you all your wickedness and punish you for all your iniquities.

3 C an two walk together, except they be agreed?

Do two walk together except they make an appointment and have agreed?

4 W ill 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?

Will a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den if he has taken nothing?

5 C an 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?

Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth where there is no trap for him? Does a trap spring up from the ground when nothing at all has sprung it?

6 S hall 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?

Shall a trumpet be blown in the city and the people not be alarmed and afraid? Shall misfortune or evil occur and the Lord has not caused it?

7 S urely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Surely the Lord God will do nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets.

8 T he lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy?

9 P ublish 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.

Publish to the strongholds in Ashdod and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold what great tumults (confusion and disorder) are in her and what oppressions are in the midst of her.

10 F or they know not to do right, saith the Lord, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.

For they know not how to do right, says the Lord, they who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.

11 T herefore 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.

Therefore thus says the Lord God: An adversary shall surround the land, and he shall bring down your defenses from you and your strongholds shall be plundered.

12 T hus 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.

Thus says the Lord: As the shepherd rescues out of the mouth of the lion two legs or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel who dwell in Samaria be rescued with the corner of a couch and the damask covering of a bed.

13 H ear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord God, the God of hosts,

Hear and bear witness in the house of Jacob, says the Lord God, the God of hosts,

14 t hat 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.

That in the day when I visit Israel’s transgressions upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel, and the horns of the altar shall be cut off and fall to the ground.

15 A nd 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.

And I will smite the winter house with the summer house, and the houses of ivory shall perish and the many and great houses shall come to an end, says the Lord.