1 ¶ Woe unto those that devise iniquity and fabricate evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they put it into effect because they have power in their hands.

Woe to those who devise iniquity and work out evil upon their beds! When the morning is light, they perform and practice it because it is in their power.

2 A nd they coveted fields and stole them, and houses and took them away; so they oppressed the man and his house, even the man and his heritage.

They covet fields and seize them, and houses and take them away; they oppress and crush a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.

3 T herefore thus hath the LORD said; Behold, I devise an evil against this family, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye walk haughtily; for the time shall be evil.

Therefore thus says the Lord: Behold, against this family I am planning a disaster from which you cannot remove your necks, nor will you be able to walk erect; for it will be an evil time.

4 I n that time shall one take up a saying against you and lament with a doleful lamentation and say, We have been utterly destroyed; he has changed the portion of my people; how has he taken our fields! He has given and divided our fields unto others.

In that day shall they take up a parable against you and wail with a doleful and bitter lamentation and say, We are utterly ruined and laid waste! changes the portion of my people. How He removes it from me! He divides our fields.

5 T herefore thou shalt have no one to cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD.

Therefore you shall have no one to cast a line by lot upon a plot in the assembly of the Lord.

6 ¶ Do not prophesy, they say to those that prophesy: Do not prophesy unto them that they are to understand shame.

Do not preach, say the prophesying false prophets; one should not babble and harp on such things; disgrace will not overtake us.

7 O thou that calls thyself the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD shortened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walks uprightly?

O house of Jacob, shall it be said, Is the Spirit of the Lord restricted, impatient, and shortened? Or are these His doings? Do not My words do good to him who walks uprightly?

8 H e who yesterday was my people is risen up as an enemy; ye pull off the robe with the garment from those that pass by as those who return from war.

But lately (yesterday) My people have stood up as an enemy. Off from the garment you strip the cloak of those who pass by in secure confidence of safety and are averse to war.

9 Y e have cast the women of my people out from their pleasant houses; from their children ye have taken away my continual praise.

The women of My people you cast out from their pleasant houses; from their young children you take away My glory forever.

10 A rise and depart, for this is not your rest because it is polluted; it has become corrupted and with a great corruption.

Arise and depart, for this is not the rest, because of uncleanness that works destruction, even a sharp and grievous destruction.

11 I f there is one walking in the spirit of falsehood, he shall 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 walking in a spirit and in falsehood should lie and say, I will prophesy to you of wine and strong drink, O Israel, he would even be the acceptable prophet of this people!

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.

I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob; I will surely collect the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in the midst of their pasture. They shall swarm with men and hum with much noise.

13 T he breaker shall go up before them; they shall break through and pass through the gate and go out by it; and their king shall pass before them, the LORD at the head of them.

The Breaker will go up before them. They will break through, pass in through the gate and go out through it, and their King will pass on before them, the Lord at their head.