Authority of the Prophet’s Message
1Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying:
2“You only have I known of all the families of the earth;
Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
3Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
4Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey?
Will a young lion acry out of his den, if he has caught nothing?
5Will a bird fall into a snare on the earth, where there is no btrap for it?
Will a snare spring up from the earth, if it has caught nothing at all?
6If a ctrumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid?
If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it?
7Surely the Lord GOD does nothing,
Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
8A lion has roared!
Who will not fear?
The Lord GOD has spoken!
Who can but prophesy?
Punishment of Israel’s Sins
9“Proclaim in the palaces at dAshdod,
And in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say:
‘Assemble on the mountains of Samaria;
See great tumults in her midst,
And the eoppressed within her.
10For they do not know to do right,’
Says the LORD,
‘Who store up violence and frobbery in their palaces.’ ”
11Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:
“An adversary shall be all around the land;
He shall sap your strength from you,
And your palaces shall be plundered.”
12Thus says the LORD:
“As a shepherd gtakes from the mouth of a lion
Two legs or a piece of an ear,
So shall the children of Israel be taken out
Who dwell in Samaria—
In the corner of a bed and hon the edge of a couch!
13Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,”
Says the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,
14“That in the day I punish Israel for their transgressions,
I will also visit destruction on the altars of Bethel;
And the horns of the altar shall be cut off
And fall to the ground.
15I will idestroy the winter house along with the summer house;
The houses of ivory shall perish,
And the great houses shall have an end,”
Says the LORD.