1 ¶ Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O sons 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 visit all your iniquities against you.

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 has no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den if he has 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 without a fowler? Shall the snare rise up 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 the shofar be blown in the city and the people not be afraid? Shall there be any evil in the city which the LORD has not done?

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 B ecause the Lord GOD will do nothing unless he reveals his secret to his slaves the prophets.

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

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

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

9 ¶ Publish upon the palaces of Ashdod and upon the palaces of the land of Egypt and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria and behold the great oppression in the midst thereof and the great violence 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 do not know to do right, said the LORD, storing 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 said 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 hath the LORD said: As the pastor takes out of the mouth of the lion two legs or a piece of an ear, so shall the sons of Israel escape that dwell in Samaria in the corner of the bed and at the border of the 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 protest in the house of Jacob, said the Lord GOD, the God of the 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 rebellions of Israel upon him, I will also visit upon the altars of Bethel, 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 many houses shall be cut off, said 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.