1 ¶ Woe unto those that are at ease in Zion and to those that trust in the mountain of Samaria, who are named principals among the same nations which shall come upon them, O house of Israel!

Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who are secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel come!

2 P ass unto Calneh and see, and from there go to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Palestinians. Are they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?

Go to Calneh, and see; and from there go to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. are they better than these kingdoms? or is their border greater than your border?

3 Y e that put far away the evil day and cause the seat of violence to come near;

Those who put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;

4 t hat lie upon beds of ivory and stretch themselves upon their couches and eat the lambs out of the flock and the calves out of the midst of the stall;

Who lie on beds of ivory, and stretch themselves on their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the middle of the stall;

5 t hat chant to the sound of the flute and invent to themselves instruments of music, like David;

who strum on the strings of a harp; who invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;

6 t hat drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments, but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

who drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the best oils; but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

7 T herefore now they shall go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of those that stretched themselves upon their couches shall be removed.

Therefore they will now go captive with the first who go captive; and the feasting and lounging will end.

8 ¶ The Lord GOD has sworn by himself, the LORD God of the hosts said, I abhor the grandeur of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore I will give the city with all that is therein over to the enemy.

“The Lord Yahweh has sworn by himself,” says Yahweh, the God of Armies: “I abhor the pride of Jacob, and detest his fortresses. Therefore I will deliver up the city with all that is in it.

9 A nd it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die.

It will happen, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die.

10 A nd their uncle shall take each one and burn them to bring out the bones out of the house and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then he shall say, Hold thy tongue, for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.

“When a man’s relative carries him, even he who burns him, to bring bodies out of the house, and asks him who is in the innermost parts of the house, ‘Is there yet any with you?’ And he says, ‘No;’ then he will say, ‘Hush! Indeed we must not mention Yahweh’s name.’

11 F or, behold, the LORD shall command, and he will smite the great house with breaches and the little house with clefts.

“For, behold, Yahweh commands, and the great house will be smashed to pieces, and the little house into bits.

12 S hall horses run upon the rocks? will one plow there with oxen? why have ye turned judgment into hemlock, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood?

Do horses run on the rocky crags? Does one plow there with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison, and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness;

13 Y e who rejoice in a thing of nought, who say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?

you who rejoice in a thing of nothing, who say, ‘Haven’t we taken for ourselves horns by our own strength?’

14 B ut, behold, I will raise up against you Gentiles, O house of Israel, said the LORD God of the hosts, and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness.

For, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, house of Israel,” says Yahweh, the God of Armies; “and they will afflict you from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of the Arabah.”