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 upon their beds! When the morning is light, they perform and practice it because it is in their power.

2 A nd they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a 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 saith the Lord; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is 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 day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath divided our fields.

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 none that shall 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 P rophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take 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 art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the Lord straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh 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 E ven of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse 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 T he women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.

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 ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.

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

11 I f a man walking in the spirit and 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 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 is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the Lord on 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.