Oppressors Judged

2 Woe to those who dream up wickedness

and prepare evil plans u on their beds!

At morning light v they accomplish it

because the power is in their hands. w

2 They covet fields x and seize them; y

they also take houses.

They deprive a man of his home, z

a person of his inheritance. a

3 Therefore, the Lord says:

I am now planning b a disaster

against this nation; c

you cannot free your necks from it. d

Then you will not walk so proudly e

because it will be an evil time. f

4 In that day one will take up g a taunt against you,

and lament mournfully, h saying,

“We are totally ruined! i

He measures out the allotted land of my people.

How He removes it from me!

He allots our fields j to traitors.”

5 Therefore, there will be no one

in the assembly of the Lord

to divide the land by casting lots. k l

God’s Word Rejected

6 “Quit your preaching,” m they n preach.

“They should not preach these things; o

shame will not overtake us.” p q

7 House of Jacob, should it be asked,

“Is the Spirit of the Lord impatient? r

Are these the things He does?”

Don’t My words bring good s

to the one who walks uprightly? t

8 But recently My people have risen up

like an enemy: u

You strip off the splendid robe v

from those who are passing through confidently, w

like those returning from war.

9 You force x the women of My people

out of their comfortable homes,

and you take My blessing y z

from their children forever.

10 Get up and leave,

for this is not your place of rest, a

because defilement b brings destruction—

a grievous destruction! c

11 If a man of wind d comes

and invents lies: e

“I will preach to you about wine and beer,” f

he would be just the preacher for this people! g

The Remnant Regathered

12 I will indeed gather h all of you, Jacob;

I will collect the remnant of Israel. i

I will bring them together like sheep in a pen,

like a flock in the middle of its fold.

It will be noisy with people. j

13 One who breaks open the way

will advance before them;

they will break out, pass through the gate,

and leave by it.

Their King will pass through before them,

the Lord as their leader.