3 The Sovereign Lord says, “A city in Israel sends out a thousand soldiers, but only a hundred return; another city sends out a hundred, but only ten come back.”
4 The Lord says to the people of Israel, “Come to me, and you will live.
5 Do not go to Beersheba to worship. Do not try to find me at Bethel—Bethel will come to nothing. Do not go to Gilgal—her people are doomed to exile.”
6 Go to the Lord, and you will live. If you do not go, he will sweep down like fire on the people of Israel. The fire will burn up the people of Bethel, and no one will be able to put it out.
7 You are doomed, you that twist justice and cheat people out of their rights!
8 The Lord made the stars,the Pleiades and Orion.He turns darkness into daylightand day into night.He calls for the waters of the seaand pours them out on the earth.His name is the Lord.
9 He brings destruction on the mighty and their strongholds.