1 H ear this word which the Lord has spoken against you, sons of Israel, against the entire family which He brought up from the land of Egypt:

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 “ You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

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 D o two men walk together unless they have made an appointment?

Do two walk together except they make an appointment and have agreed?

4 D oes a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Does a young lion growl from his den unless he has captured something ?

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 D oes a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no bait in it? Does a trap spring up from the earth when it captures 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 I f a trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble? If a calamity occurs in a city has not the Lord done it?

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 S urely the Lord God does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets.

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

8 A 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 P roclaim on the citadels in Ashdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt and say, “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria and see the great tumults within her and the oppressions in her midst.

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 B ut they do not know how to do what is right,” declares the Lord, “these who hoard up violence and devastation in their citadels.”

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 says the Lord God, “An enemy, even one surrounding the land, Will pull down your strength from you And your citadels will be looted.”

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 says the Lord, “Just as the shepherd snatches from the lion’s mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear, So will the sons of Israel dwelling in Samaria be snatched away— With the corner of a bed and the cover of a 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 “ Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,” Declares the Lord God, the God of hosts.

Hear and bear witness in the house of Jacob, says the Lord God, the God of hosts,

14 “ For on the day that I punish Israel’s transgressions, I will also punish the altars of Bethel; The horns of the altar will be cut off And they will 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 “ I will also smite the winter house together with the summer house; The houses of ivory will also perish And the great houses will come to an end,” Declares 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.