1. Hear this word, Israelites, that the Lord speaks concerning you,concerning the whole family I brought up from the land of Egypt:
2. You alone I have known,among all the families of the earth;Therefore I will punish youfor all your iniquities.
3. Do two journey togetherunless they have agreed?
4. Does a lion roar in the forestwhen it has no prey?Does a young lion cry out from its denunless it has seized something?
5. Does a bird swoop down on a trap on the groundwhen there is no lure for it?Does a snare spring up from the groundwithout catching anything?
6. Does the ram’s horn sound in a citywithout the people becoming frightened?Does disaster befall a cityunless the Lord has caused it?
7. (Indeed, the Lord God does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.)
8. The lion has roared,who would not fear?The Lord God has spoken,who would not prophesy?
9. Proclaim this in the strongholds of Assyria,in the strongholds of the land of Egypt:“Gather on the mount of Samaria,and see the great disorders within it,the oppressions within its midst.”
10. They do not know how to do what is right—oracle of the Lord—Storing up in their strongholdsviolence and destruction.
11. Therefore thus says the Lord God:An enemy shall surround the land,tear down your fortresses,and pillage your strongholds.
12. Thus says the Lord:As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the liona pair of sheep’s legs or the tip of an ear,So shall the Israelites escape,those who dwell in Samaria,With the corner of a couchor a piece of a cot.
13. Hear and bear witness against the house of Jacob—an oracle of the Lord God, the God of hosts:
14. On the day when I punish Israel for its crimes,I will also punish the altars of Bethel;The horns of the altar shall be broken offand fall to the ground.
15. I will strike the winter houseand the summer house;The houses of ivory shall lie in ruin,and their many rooms shall be no more—oracle of the Lord.