Punishment for those who abuse their power

1Doomed! You're doomed!

At night you lie in bed,

making evil plans.

And when morning comes,

you do what you've planned

because you have the power.

2You grab any field or house

that you want;

you cheat families

out of homes and land.

3But here is what the LORD says:

“I am planning trouble for you.

Your necks will be caught

in a noose,

and you will be disgraced

in this time of disaster.”

4When that happens,

this sorrowful song

will be sung about you:

“Ruined! Completely ruined!

The LORD has taken our land

and given it to traitors.”2.4 The LORD…traitors: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

5And so you will never again

own property

among the LORD's people.

6“Enough of your preaching!”

That's what you tell me.

“We won't be disgraced,

so stop preaching!”

7Descendants of Jacob,

is it right for you to claim

that the LORD did what he did

because he was angry?

Doesn't he always bless

those who do right?

8My people, you have even stolen

clothes right off the backs

of your unsuspecting soldiers

returning home from battle.

9You take over lovely homes

that belong to the women

of my nation.

Then you cheat their children

out of the inheritance

that comes from the LORD.2.9 inheritance…LORD: The Hebrew text has “my glory”, which refers to the inheritance of land that the LORD had promised his people.

10Get out of here, you crooks!

You'll find no rest here.

You're not fit to belong

to the LORD's people,

and you will be destroyed.2.10 destroyed: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

11The only prophet you want

is a liar who will say,

“Drink and get drunk!”

A promise of hope

12I, the LORD, promise

to bring together

the people of Israel

who have survived.

I will gather them,

just as a shepherd

brings sheep together,

and there will be many.

13I will break down the gate

and lead them out—

then I will be their king.