Authority of the Prophet’s Message
1 Hear this word that theLordhas spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying:
2 “Youonly have I known of all the families of the earth;
# Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
4 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 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 If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid?
# If there is calamity in a city, will not theLordhave doneit?
7 Surely the LordGoddoes nothing,
# UnlessHe reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
8 A lion has roared!
Who will not fear?
The LordGodhas spoken!
# Who can but prophesy?
Punishment of Israel’s Sins
9 “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 For theydo not know to do right,’
Says theLord,
‘Who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.’ ”
11 Therefore thus says the LordGod:
“An adversaryshallbeall around the land;
He shall sap your strength from you,
And your palaces shall be plundered.”
12 Thus says theLord:
“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 Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,”
Says the LordGod, the God of hosts,
14 “That in the day I punish Israel for their transgressions,
# I will also visitdestructionon the altars ofBethel;
And the horns of the altar shall be cut off
And fall to the ground.
15 I will destroythe winter house along withthe summer house;
# Thehouses of ivory shall perish,
And the great houses shall have an end,”
Says theLord.