God Will Judge Israel

6  This is what the Lord says:

“Because Israel has committed three covenant transgressions –

make that four! – I will not revoke my decree of judgment.

They sold the innocent for silver,

the needy for a pair of sandals.

7  They trample on the dirt-covered heads of the poor;

they push the destitute away.

A man and his father go to the same girl;

in this way they show disrespect for my moral purity.

8  They stretch out on clothing seized as collateral;

they do so right beside every altar!

They drink wine bought with the fines they have levied;

they do so right in the temple of their God!

9  For Israel’s sake I destroyed the Amorites.

They were as tall as cedars

and as strong as oaks,

but I destroyed the fruit on their branches

and their roots in the ground.

10  I brought you up from the land of Egypt;

I led you through the wilderness for forty years

so you could take the Amorites’ land as your own.

11  I made some of your sons prophets

and some of your young men Nazirites.

Is this not true, you Israelites?”

The Lord is speaking!

12 “But you made the Nazirites drink wine;

you commanded the prophets, ‘Do not prophesy!’

13  Look! I will press you down,

like a cart loaded down with grain presses down.

14  Fast runners will find no place to hide;

strong men will have no strength left;

warriors will not be able to save their lives.

15  Archers will not hold their ground;

fast runners will not save their lives,

nor will those who ride horses.

16  Bravehearted warriors will run away naked in that day.”

The Lord is speaking!

3  Listen, you Israelites, to this message which the Lord is proclaiming against you! This message is for the entire clan I brought up from the land of Egypt: 2 “I have chosen you alone from all the clans of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all your sins.”

3  Do two walk together without having met?

4  Does a lion roar in the woods if he has not cornered his prey?

Does a young lion bellow from his den if he has not caught something?

5  Does a bird swoop down into a trap on the ground if there is no bait?

Does a trap spring up from the ground unless it has surely caught something?

6  If an alarm sounds in a city, do people not fear?

If disaster overtakes a city, is the Lord not responsible?

7  Certainly the sovereign Lord does nothing without first revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.

8  A lion has roared! Who is not afraid?

The sovereign Lord has spoken! Who can refuse to prophesy?