God’s Reasons for Punishing Israel

1Listen to this message that the Lord has spoken against you, Israelites, against the entire clan that I brought from the land of Egypt:†

2I have known only you†

out of all the clans of the earth;

therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities.†

3Can two walk together†

without agreeing to meet?

4Does a lion roar† in the forest

when it has no prey?

Does a young lion growl from its lair

unless it has captured something?

5Does a bird land in a trap on the ground

if there is no bait for it?

Does a trap spring from the ground

when it has caught nothing?

6If 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?d

7Indeed, the Lord God does nothing

without revealing his counsel

to his servants the prophets.†

8A lion has roared;†

who will not fear?

The Lord God has spoken;†

who will not prophesy?†

9Proclaim 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 city

and the acts of oppression within it.†

10The people are incapable of doing right† —

this is the Lord’s declaration —

those who store up violence and destruction†

in their citadels.

11Therefore, the Lord God says:

An enemy† will surround the land;

he will destroy† your strongholds

and plunder your citadels.†

12The Lord says:

As the shepherd snatches two legs

or a piece of an ear

from the lion’s mouth,†

so the Israelites who live in Samaria

will be rescued

with only the corner of a bed†

or the† cushion† of a couch.† †

13Listen and testify† against the house of Jacob —

this is the declaration of the Lord God,

the God of Armies.

14I will punish the altars of Bethel†

on the day I punish Israel for its crimes;

the horns of the altar† will be cut off

and fall to the ground.†

15I will demolish the winter house†

and the summer house;†

the houses inlaid with ivory† will be destroyed,

and the great housesd will come to an end.

This is the Lord’s declaration.