Witnesses against Israel

1Hear ye this word that Jehovah hath spoken concerning you, O sons of Israel, concerning all the family that I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying:

2Only you I have known of all families of the land, Therefore I charge on you all your iniquities.

3Do two walk together if they have not met?

4Roar doth a lion in a forest and prey he hath none? Give out doth a young lion his voice from his habitation, If he hath not caught?

5Doth a bird fall into a snare of the earth, And there is no gin for it? Doth a snare go up from the ground, And prey it captureth not?

6Is a trumpet blown in a city, And do people not tremble? Is there affliction in a city, And Jehovah hath not done [it]?

7For the Lord Jehovah doth nothing, Except He hath revealed His counsel unto His servants the prophets.

8A lion hath roared—who doth not fear? The Lord Jehovah hath spoken—who doth not prophesy?

9Sound ye unto palaces in Ashdod, And to palaces in the land of Egypt, and say: Be ye gathered on mountains of Samaria, And see many troubles within her, And oppressed ones in her midst. 10And they have not known to act straightforwardly, An affirmation of Jehovah, Who are treasuring up violence and spoil in their palaces.

11Therefore, thus said the Lord Jehovah: An adversary—and surrounding the land, And he hath brought down from thee thy strength, And spoiled have been thy palaces.

12Thus said Jehovah: As the shepherd delivereth from the lion’s mouth Two legs, or a piece of an ear, So delivered are the sons of Israel, Who are sitting in Samaria on the corner of a bed, And in Damascus [on that of] a couch.

13Hear ye and testify to the house of Jacob, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, God of Hosts.

14For in the day of My charging the transgressions of Israel on him, I have laid a charge on the altars of Beth-El, And cut off have been the horns of the altar, And they have fallen to the earth.

15And I have smitten the winter-house with the summer-house, And perished have houses of ivory, And consumed have been many houses, An affirmation of Jehovah!