Social Evils Denounced

2 Alas for those who devise wickedness

and evil deedsa on their beds!

When the morning dawns, they perform it,

because it is in their power.

2 They covet fields, and seize them;

houses, and take them away;

they oppress householder and house,

people and their inheritance.

3 Therefore thus says the Lord:

Now, I am devising against this family an evil

from which you cannot remove your necks;

and you shall not walk haughtily,

for it will be an evil time.

4 On that day they shall take up a taunt song against you,

and wail with bitter lamentation,

and say, “We are utterly ruined;

the Lordb alters the inheritance of my people;

how he removes it from me!

Among our captorsc he parcels out our fields.”

5 Therefore you will have no one to cast the line by lot

in the assembly of the Lord.

6 “Do not preach”—thus they preach—

“one should not preach of such things;

disgrace will not overtake us.”

7 Should this be said, O house of Jacob?

Is the Lord’s patience exhausted?

Are these his doings?

Do not my words do good

to one who walks uprightly?

8 But you rise up against my peopled as an enemy;

you strip the robe from the peaceful,e

from those who pass by trustingly

with no thought of war.

9 The women of my people you drive out

from their pleasant houses;

from their young children you take away

my glory forever.

10 Arise and go;

for this is no place to rest,

because of uncleanness that destroys

with a grievous destruction.f

11 If someone were to go about uttering empty falsehoods,

saying, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,”

such a one would be the preacher for this people!