Yet You Have Not Returned to Me

1Hear this word, you cows of Bashan who are on the mountain of Samaria,

Who oppress the poor, who crush the needy,

Who say to their [†]husbands, “Bring now, that we may drink!”

2Lord Yahweh has sworn by His holiness that,

“Behold, the days are coming upon you,

And [†]they will take you away with meat hooks,

And the last of you with fish hooks.

3And you will go out through breaches in the walls,

Each one straight before her,

And you [†]will be cast to Harmon,” declares Yahweh.

4“Enter Bethel and transgress;

In Gilgal multiply transgression!

Bring your sacrifices every morning,

Your tithes every three days.

5[†]And offer a thank offering also from that which is leavened,

And call for freewill offerings; cause them to be heard about.

For so you love to do, you sons of Israel,”

Declares Lord Yahweh.

6“But I gave you also cleanness of teeth in all your cities

And lack of bread in all your places,

Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares Yahweh.

7“And I also withheld the rain from you

While there were still three months until harvest.

Then I would send rain on one city,

And on another city I would not send rain;

One portion would be rained on,

While the portion not rained on would dry up.

8So two or three cities would wander around to another city to drink water,

But would not be satisfied;

Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares Yahweh.

9“I struck you with scorching wind and mildew;

And the gnawing locust was devouring

Your many gardens and vineyards, fig trees, and olive trees;

Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares Yahweh.

10“I sent a pestilence among you after the manner of Egypt;

I killed your choice men by the sword along with your captured horses,

And I made the stench of your camp rise up even in your nostrils;

Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares Yahweh.

11“I overthrew you as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,

And you were like a firebrand [†]delivered from a blaze;

Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares Yahweh.

12“Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel;

Because I will do this to you,

Prepare to meet your God, O Israel.”

13For behold, He who forms mountains and creates the wind

And declares to man what are His thoughts,

He who makes dawn into gloom

And treads on the high places of the earth,

Yahweh God of hosts is His name.