1 W oe 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.

Woe to those who devise iniquity, And work out evil on their beds! At morning light they practice it, Because it is in the power of their hand.

2 A nd they covet fields, and seize them; and houses, and take them away: and they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.

They covet fields and take them by violence, Also houses, and seize them. So they oppress a man and his house, A man and his inheritance.

3 T herefore thus saith Jehovah: Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks, neither shall ye walk haughtily; for it is an evil time.

Therefore thus says the Lord: “Behold, against this family I am devising disaster, From which you cannot remove your necks; Nor shall you walk haughtily, For this is an evil time.

4 I n that day shall they take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We are utterly ruined: he changeth the portion of my people: how doth he remove it from me! to the rebellious he divideth our fields.

In that day one shall take up a proverb against you, And lament with a bitter lamentation, saying: ‘We are utterly destroyed! He has changed the heritage of my people; How He has removed it from me! To a turncoat He has divided our fields.’”

5 T herefore thou shalt have none that shall cast the line by lot in the assembly of Jehovah.

Therefore you will have no one to determine boundaries by lot In the assembly of the Lord. Lying Prophets

6 P rophesy ye not, thus they prophesy. They shall not prophesy to these: reproaches shall not depart.

“Do not prattle,” you say to those who prophesy. So they shall not prophesy to you; They shall not return insult for insult.

7 S hall it be said, O house of Jacob, Is the Spirit of Jehovah straitened? are these his doings? Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?

You who are named the house of Jacob: “Is the Spirit of the Lord restricted? Are these His doings? Do not My words do good To him who walks uprightly?

8 B ut of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye strip the robe from off the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war.

“Lately My people have risen up as an enemy— You pull off the robe with the garment From those who trust you, as they pass by, Like men returned from war.

9 T he women of my people ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their young children ye take away my glory for ever.

The women of My people you cast out From their pleasant houses; From their children You have taken away My glory forever.

10 A rise ye, and depart; for this is not your resting-place; because of uncleanness that destroyeth, even with a grievous destruction.

“Arise and depart, For this is not your rest; Because it is defiled, it shall destroy, Yes, with utter destruction.

11 I f a man walking in a spirit of falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

If a man should walk in a false spirit And speak a lie, saying, ‘I will prophesy to you of wine and drink,’ Even he would be the prattler of this people. Israel Restored

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 a flock in the midst of their pasture; they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.

“I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together like sheep of the fold, Like a flock in the midst of their pasture; They shall make a loud noise because of so many people.

13 T he breaker is gone up before them: they have broken forth and passed on to the gate, and are gone out thereat; and their king is passed on before them, and Jehovah at the head of them.

The one who breaks open will come up before them; They will break out, Pass through the gate, And go out by it; Their king will pass before them, With the Lord at their head.”