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,

O people of Israel, hear this word which the Lord has spoken against you and against the whole family which He 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 are the only ones I have chosen among all the families of the earth. So I must punish you for all your sins.”

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

Do two men walk together unless they have made an agreement?

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?

Does a lion make noise among the trees when he has no food? Does a young lion cry out from his home if he has not caught anything?

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?

Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no food to tempt it? Does a trap jump up from the ground when it does not catch anything?

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?

Are not the people afraid when a horn is blown in a city? When trouble comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it?

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

For sure the Lord does not do anything without making His plan known to His servants who speak for Him.

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

The lion has made a noise! Who will not be afraid? The Lord God has spoken! Who can keep from speaking His Word? Israel Will Be Punished for Its Sin

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.

Say to the people who live in the strong cities of Ashdod and Egypt, “Gather together on the mountains of Samaria. See all the trouble within her and how her people suffer.

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

They do not know how to do what is right,” says the Lord. “They store up in their strong cities what they have fought for and robbed.”

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.

So the Lord God says, “Those who hate you will gather around the land. They will pull down your strong-places and rob your strong cities.”

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.

The Lord says, “As the shepherd saves from the lion’s mouth just two legs or a piece of an ear, so will the people of Israel living in Samaria be saved, with the corner of a bed and a part of a cover.

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

Hear and speak against the family of Jacob,” says the Lord God, the God of All.

14 T hat in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel 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.

“On the day I punish Israel for her sins, I will punish the altars of Bethel. The horns of the altar will 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.

I will destroy the winter house together with the summer house. The houses of ivory will be destroyed, and the beautiful houses will come to an end,” says the Lord.