Chapter 3

All the Tribes Are Guilty

1 Hear this word which the Lord has spoken against you, sons of Israel, against the entire 1afamily which 2He brought up from the land of Egypt:

2 “aYou only have I 1chosen among all the families of the earth;

Therefore I will 2bpunish you for all your iniquities.”

3 Do two men walk together unless they have made an 1appointment?

4 Does a alion roar in the forest when he has no prey?

Does a young lion 1growl from his den unless he has captured something?

5 Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no 1bait in it?

Does a trap spring up from the earth when it captures nothing at all?

6 If a atrumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble?

If a bcalamity occurs in a city has not the Lord done it?

7 1Surely the Lord 2God does nothing

Unless He areveals His secret counsel

To His servants the prophets.

8 A alion has roared! Who will not fear?

The bLord 1God has spoken! cWho can but prophesy?

9 Proclaim on the citadels in aAshdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt and say, “Assemble yourselves on the bmountains of Samaria and see the great tumults within her and the coppressions in her midst.

10 “But they ado not know how to do what is right,” declares the Lord, “these who bhoard up 1violence and devastation in their citadels.”

11 Therefore, thus says the Lord God,

“An aenemy, even one surrounding the land,

Will pull down your 1strength from you

And your bcitadels will be looted.”

12 Thus says the Lord,

“Just as the shepherd 1asnatches from the lion’s mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear,

So will the sons of Israel dwelling in Samaria be 2snatched away—

With the bcorner of a bed and the 3ccover of a couch!

13 “Hear and atestify against the house of Jacob,”

Declares the Lord God, the God of hosts.

14 “For on the day that I punish Israel’s transgressions,

I will also punish the altars of aBethel;

The horns of the altar will be cut off

And they will fall to the ground.

15 “I will also smite the 1awinter house together with the bsummer house;

The houses of 2civory will also perish

And the dgreat houses will come to an end,”

Declares the Lord.