1 ¶ Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,

2 Of all the people of the earth I have known only you: therefore I will punish you for all your evil doing.

3 Can two walk together, if they do not agree?

4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when it has no prey? will a young lion cry out from his den, if he has not caught anything?

5 Does a bird land in a snare on the ground, if there is no bait for him? will a snare spring up from the ground, when nothing has sprung it?

6 Can a trumpet be blown in the city, without the people being alarmed? will any disaster happen to a city, if it is not the LORD’S will?

7 Surely the Lord GOD will not do anything, without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.

8 The lion has roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD has spoken, who will not prophesy?

9 ¶ Proclaim it in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Gather together on the hills of Samaria, and see what great turmoil is in its midst, and what great oppression is there.

10 For they do not know how to do right, says the LORD, what they get by violence and robbery they store in their palaces.

11 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; An enemy will surround the land; and he will strip you of your strength, and rob your palaces.

12 Thus says the LORD; As the shepherd removes two legs, or a piece of ear, from of the mouth of a lion; so will the children of Israel who live in Samaria escape, with the corner of a bed, or a couch from Damascus.

13 Listen, and tell it in the house of Jacob, says the Lord GOD, the God of armies,

14 On the day I will punish Israel for its crimes I will also punish the altars at Bethel: and the horns of the altar will be cut off, and fall to the ground.

15 And I will strike the winter house and the summer house; and the houses inlaid with ivory will be destroyed, and the great palaces will come to an end, says the LORD.