1 Listen to this message that the Lord has spoken against you, Israelites, against the entire clan that I brought from the land of Egypt:
2 I have known only you out of all the clans of the earth;therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities.
3 Can two walk together without agreeing to meet?
4 Does a lion roar in the forestwhen it has no prey?Does a young lion growl from its lairunless it has captured something?
5 Does a bird land in a trap on the groundif there is no bait for it?Does a trap spring from the groundwhen it has caught nothing?
6 If a ram’s horn is blown in a city,aren’t people afraid? If a disaster occurs in a city,hasn’t the Lord done it?
7 Indeed, the Lord God does nothingwithout revealing His counselto His servants the prophets.
8 A lion has roared; who will not fear?The Lord God has spoken; who will not prophesy?
9 Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt:Assemble on the mountains of Samaria and see the great turmoil in the cityand the acts of oppression within it.
10 The people are incapable of doing right —this is the Lord’s declaration —those who store up violence and destruction in their citadels.
11 Therefore, the Lord God says:An enemy will surround the land;he will destroy your strongholdsand plunder your citadels.
12 The Lord says:As the shepherd snatches two legsor a piece of an earfrom the lion’s mouth, so the Israelites who live in Samariawill be rescuedwith only the corner of a bed or the cushion of a couch.
13 Listen and testify against the house of Jacob —this is the declaration of the Lord God,the God of Hosts.
14 I will punish the altars of Bethel on the day I punish Israel for its crimes;the horns of the altar will be cut offand fall to the ground.
15 I will demolish the winter house and the summer house; the houses inlaid with ivory will be destroyed,and the great houses will come to an end.This is the Lord’s declaration.