1WOE to those who devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! They rise up early every morning and practice what they have devised; then they lift up their hands toward God to pray.

2They covet fields and houses, and seize them by force; they oppress a man, taking away from him his possessions and his inheritance.

3Therefore thus says the LORD God: Behold, against this people do I devise a disaster from which you shall not lift up your necks, neither shall you walk haughtily; for this is an evil time.

4In that day shall one take up a proverb against you, and lament with a wailing melody, and say, The robber has plundered us; the portion of my people he has divided with a measuring line; there is none to restore our fields with the measuring line.

5Therefore you shall have none that shall measure by the measuring line and divide by casting the lots in the congregation of the LORD.

6Shed not tears, and weep not over these things,

7That the shame which is spoken against the house of Jacob may not overtake you; for the spirit of the LORD is angry at these devices; behold, my words are good to him who walked uprightly.

8My people stood up like a thief against his own peace; you strip the skin from the poor that they may lose their hope; you invite war.

9The women of my people you have driven out from their pleasant houses; from their children you have taken away the glory for ever.

10Arise and go away; for this is no place for your rest, because the pollution will bring destruction, and the destruction will be grievous.

11When a man walks in the spirit of falsehood and deception, overwhelmed with wine and drunkenness, he does so because of the anguish of this people.

12I will surely gather you, O Jacob, all of you; I will surely bring you together, O remnant of Israel; I will keep them like sheep when they are in danger, like a flock in the midst of their fold, which are protected from thieves.

13The pathbreaker is come up before them; they have made a breach and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it; and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD at the head of them.