1 H ear ye this word that Jehovah hath spoken concerning you, O sons of Israel, concerning all the family that I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying:

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 O nly you I have known of all families of the land, Therefore I charge on you 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 walk together if they have not met?

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

4 R oar doth a lion in a forest and prey he hath none? Give out doth a young lion his voice from his habitation, If he hath not caught?

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 oth a bird fall into a snare of the earth, And there is no gin for it? Doth a snare go up from the ground, And prey it captureth not?

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 s a trumpet blown in a city, And do people not tremble? Is there affliction in a city, And Jehovah hath not done ?

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 F or the Lord Jehovah doth nothing, Except He hath revealed His counsel unto His servants the prophets.

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

8 A lion hath roared -- who doth not fear? The Lord Jehovah hath spoken -- who doth not prophesy?

The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy?

9 S ound ye unto palaces in Ashdod, And to palaces in the land of Egypt, and say: Be ye gathered on mountains of Samaria, And see many troubles within her, And oppressed ones 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 A nd they have not known to act straightforwardly, An affirmation of Jehovah, Who are treasuring up violence and spoil in their palaces.

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 said the Lord Jehovah: An adversary -- and surrounding the land, And he hath brought down from thee thy strength, And spoiled have been thy palaces.

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 said Jehovah: As the shepherd delivereth from the lion's mouth Two legs, or a piece of an ear, So delivered are the sons of Israel, Who are sitting in Samaria on the corner of a bed, And in Damascus 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 H ear ye and testify to the house of Jacob, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, God of Hosts.

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

14 F or in the day of My charging the transgressions of Israel on him, I have laid a charge on the altars of Beth-El, And cut off have been the horns of the altar, And they have fallen to the earth.

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 A nd I have smitten the winter-house with the summer-house, And perished have houses of ivory, And consumed have been many houses, An affirmation of Jehovah!

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.