away their punishment ; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after which their fathers have walked:
5 But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.
6 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away their punishment ; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
7 That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in to the same maid, to profane my holy name: [1]
8 And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god. [2]
9 Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath.
10 Also I brought you from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.
11 And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the LORD.
12 But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.
13 Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves. [3]
14 Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself: [4]
15 Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself : neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself.
16 And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith the LORD. [5]
CHAP. 3.
Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. [6]
3 Can two walk together, except they are agreed?
4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he hath taken nothing? [7]
5 Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no trap is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
6 Shalt a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it ? [8] [9]
7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret to his servants the prophets.
8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
9 Proclaim in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst of it, and the oppressed in the midst of it. [10]
10 For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces. [11]
11 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even on every side the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be plundered.
12 Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch. [12] [13]
13 Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,
14 That in the day that I shall judge the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also judge the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground. [14]
15 And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD.
CHAP. 4.
Hear this word, ye cows of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.
2 The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.
3 And ye shall go out at the breaches, every cow at that which is before her; and ye shall cast them into the palace, saith the LORD. [15]
4 Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years: [16]
5 And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and declare the free offerings: for this pleaseth you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD. [17] [18]
6 And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned to me, saith the LORD.
7 And also I have withheld the rain from you, when there were yet three months
- ↑ maid: or, young woman
- ↑ the condemned: or, such as have fined, or, mulcted
- ↑ I am...: or, I will press your place, as a cart full of sheaves presseth
- ↑ himself: Heb. his soul, or, life
- ↑ courageous: Heb. strong of his heart
- ↑ punish: Heb. visit upon
- ↑ cry: Heb. give forth his voice
- ↑ be afraid: or, run together?
- ↑ the LORD...: or, shall not the LORD do somewhat?
- ↑ oppressed: or, oppressions
- ↑ robbery: or, spoil
- ↑ taketh: Heb. delivereth
- ↑ in Damascus...: or, on the bed’s feet
- ↑ visit: or, punish Israel for
- ↑ cast...: or, cast away the things of the palace
- ↑ three...: Heb. three years of days
- ↑ offer: Heb. offer by burning
- ↑ this...: Heb. so ye love
