1 Ah! you plotters of iniquity,who work out evil on your beds!In the morning light you carry it outfor it lies within your power.
2 You covet fields, and seize them;houses, and take them;You cheat owners of their houses,people of their inheritance.
3 Therefore thus says the Lord:Look, I am planning against this family an evilfrom which you cannot free your necks;Nor shall you walk with head held high,for it will be an evil time.
4 On that day you shall be mocked,and there will be bitter lament:“Our ruin is complete,our fields are divided among our captors,The fields of my people are measured out,and no one can get them back!”
5 Thus you shall have no onein the assembly of the Lordto allot to you a share of land.
6 “Do not preach,” they preach,“no one should preach of these things!Shame will not overtake us.”
7 How can it be said, house of Jacob,“Is the Lord short of patience;are these the Lord’s deeds?”Do not my words promise goodto the one who walks in justice?
8 But you rise up against my people as an enemy:you have stripped off the garment from the peaceful,From those who go their way in confidence,as though it were spoils of war.
9 The women of my people you drive outfrom their pleasant houses;From their children you take awayforever the honor I gave them.
10 “Get up! Leave,this is no place to rest”;Because of uncleanness that destroyswith terrible destruction.
11 If one possessed of a lying spiritspeaks deceitfully, saying,“I will preach to you wine and strong drink,”that one would be the preacher for this people.
12 I will gather you, Jacob, each and every one,I will assemble all the remnant of Israel;I will group them like a flock in the fold,like a herd in its pasture;the noise of the people will resound.
13 The one who makes a breach goes up before them;they make a breach and pass through the gate;Their king shall go through before them,the Lord at their head.