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, saying:

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 of all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

3 D o two walk together if they have not met?

Can two walk together, unless they are 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 caught 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?

Will a bird fall into a snare on the earth, where there is no trap for it? Will a snare spring up from the earth, if it has caught nothing at all?

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 ?

If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it?

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

Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals 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?

A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy? Punishment of Israel’s Sins

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.

“Proclaim in the palaces at Ashdod, And in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say: ‘Assemble on the mountains of Samaria; See great tumults in her midst, And the oppressed within 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 do not know to do right,’ Says the Lord, ‘Who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.’”

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 be all around the land; He shall sap your strength from you, And your palaces 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 a shepherd takes from the mouth of a lion Two legs or a piece of an ear, So shall the children of Israel be taken out Who dwell in Samaria— In the corner of a bed and on the edge of a couch!

13 H ear ye and testify to the house of Jacob, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, God of Hosts.

Hear and testify against 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 I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will also visit destruction on 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!

I will destroy the winter house along with the summer house; The houses of ivory shall perish, And the great houses shall have an end,” Says the Lord.