Witnesses against Israel

1Hear this word that YHWH has spoken against you⁺, O sons of Israel, against all the family that I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying:

2“Only you⁺ have I known†

from all of the families of the earth;

upon thus I will visit punishment on you⁺

for all your⁺ iniquities.”

3Can two walk together,

unless they have agreed?†

4Does a lion roar in the forest

and no prey is unto him?

Does a young lion give forth his voice from his den,

unless he has captured?

5Does a bird fall into a trap on the earth

and no snare is unto it?

Does a trap spring up from the ground

and it has captured no prey?

6If a shofar is blown in the city,

do the people not tremble?

If calamity comes to a city,

has not YHWH sent it?

7Surely the Lord YHWH will not do a thing,

that unless He reveals His plan

to His servants the prophets.

8A lion has roared—

who will not fear?

The Lord YHWH has spoken—

who will not prophesy?

9Let it be heard in the citadels of Ashdod,

and in the citadels in the land of Egypt,

and say: “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria,

and see great tumults in her midst,

and the oppressed in her midst.”

10“And they know not to do right—”

a declaration of YHWH

“Those storing up violence and plunder

in their palaces.”

11Therefore, thus says the Lord YHWH:

“An enemy† will surround the land,

and he will bring down from you your strongholds

and plunder your citadels.”

12Thus says YHWH:

“As a shepherd delivers from the mouth of a lion

two legs, or a piece of an ear,

so will be delivered the sons of Israel, those dwelling in Samaria,

with the corner of a bed,

or the cushion of a couch!†

13Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,

a declaration of the Lord YHWH, the God of Hosts,

14that on the day of my visiting punishment for the transgressions of Israel upon him,

then will I visit punishment on the altars of Bethel,

and the horns of the altar will be cut off,

and they will fall to the ground.

15And I will destroy the house of winter

with the house of summer,

and the houses of ivory will perish,

and the great houses will be swept away,”

a declaration of YHWH.