God’s Reasons for Punishing Israel

1Listen to this message that the LORD has spoken against you, Israelites, against the entire clan that I brought from the land of Egypt:a

2I have known only youb

out of all the clans of the earth;

therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities.c

3Can two walk togetherd

without agreeing to meet?e

4Does a lion roarf in the forest

when it has no prey?

Does a young lion growl from its lair

unless it has captured something?

5Does a bird land in a trap on the ground

if there is no bait for it?

Does a trap spring from the ground

when it has caught nothing?

6If a ram’s horng is blown in a city,

aren’t people afraid?h

If a disasteri occurs in a city,

hasn’t the LORD done it?j

7Indeed, the Lord GOD does nothing

without revealing His counsel

to His servants the prophets.k

8A lion has roared;l

who will not fear?

The Lord GOD has spoken;m

who will not prophesy?n

9Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdodo

and on the citadels in the land of Egypt:

Assemble on the mountains of Samariap

and see the great turmoil in the city

and the acts of oppression within it.q

10The people are incapable of doing rightr —

this is the LORD’s declaration —

those who store up violence and destructions

in their citadels.

11Therefore, the Lord GOD says:

An enemyt will surround the land;

he will destroyu your strongholds

and plunder your citadels.v

12The LORD says:

As the shepherd snatches two legs

or a piece of an ear

from the lion’s mouth,w

so the Israelites who live in Samaria

will be rescued

with only the corner of a bedx

or they cushionz of a couch.aa, ab

13Listen and testifyac against the house of Jacob —

this is the declaration of the Lord GOD,

the God of •Hosts.

14I will punish the altars of Bethelad

on the day I punish Israel for its crimes;

the horns of the altarae will be cut off

and fall to the ground.af

15I will demolish the winter houseag

and the summer house;ah

the houses inlaid with ivoryai will be destroyed,

and the great housesaj will come to an end.

This is the LORD’s declaration.