God and Israel

1Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt:

2“You only have I known

of all the families of the earth;

therefore I will punish you

for all your iniquities.

3“Do two walk together,

unless they have made an appointment?

4Does a lion roar in the forest,

when he has no prey?

Does a young lion cry out from his den,

if he has taken nothing?

5Does a bird fall in a snare on the earth,

when there is no trap for it?

Does a snare spring up from the ground,

when it has taken nothing?

6Is a trumpet blown in a city,

and the people are not afraid?

Does evil befall a city,

unless the LORD has done it?

73.7: Rev 10.7.Surely the Lord GOD does nothing,

without revealing his secret

to his servants the prophets.

8The lion has roared;

who will not fear?

The Lord GOD has spoken;

who can but prophesy?”

9Proclaim to the strongholds in Assyria,3.9 Gk: Heb Ashdod

and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt,

and say, “Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samar'ia,

and see the great tumults within her,

and the oppressions in her midst.”

10“They do not know how to do right,” says the LORD,

“those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.”

11Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:

“An adversary shall surround the land,

and bring down your defences from you,

and your strongholds shall be plundered.”

12Thus says the LORD: “As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who dwell in Samar'ia be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part3.12 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain of a bed.”

13“Hear, and testify against the house of Jacob,”

says the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,

14“that on the day I punish Israel for his transgressions,

I will punish the altars of Bethel,

and the horns of the altar shall be cut off

and fall to the ground.

15I will smite the winter house with the summer house;

and the houses of ivory shall perish,

and the great houses3.15 Or many houses shall come to an end,”

says the LORD.