4. A lion in the forest does not roarunless it has caught an animal;it does not growl in its denwhen it has caught nothing.
5. A bird will not fall into a trapwhere there is no bait;the trap will not spring shutif there is nothing to catch.
6. When a trumpet blows a warning in a city,the people tremble.When trouble comes to a city,the Lord has caused it.
7. Before the Lord God does anything,he tells his plans to his servants the prophets.
8. The lion has roared!Who wouldn’t be afraid?The Lord God has spoken.Who will not prophesy?
9. Announce this to the strong buildings of Ashdodand to the strong buildings of Egypt:“Come to the mountains of Samaria,where you will see great confusionand people hurting others.”
10. “The people don’t know how to do what is right,” says the Lord.“Their strong buildings are filled with treasures they took by force from others.”
11. So this is what the Lord God says:“An enemy will take over the landand pull down your strongholds;he will take the treasures out of your strong buildings.”