Bible in Basic EnglishBerean Standard Bible

1. Witnesses against Israel

2. 1BBEGive ear to this word which the Lord has said against you, O children of Israel, against all the family which I took up out of the land of Egypt, saying,BSBBSB: Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt:
3. 2BBEYou only of all the families of the earth have I taken care of: for this reason I will send punishment on you for all your sins.BSBBSB: “Only you have I known from all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
4. 3BBEIs it possible for two to go walking together, if not by agreement?BSBBSB: Can two walk together without agreeing where to go?
5. 4BBEWill a lion give his loud cry in the woodland when no food is there? will the voice of the young lion be sounding from his hole if he has taken nothing?BSBBSB: Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Does a young lion growl in his den if he has caught nothing?
6. 5BBEIs it possible for a bird to be taken in a net on the earth where no net has been put for him? will the net come up from the earth if it has taken nothing at all?BSBBSB: Does a bird land in a snare where no bait has been set? Does a trap spring from the ground when it has nothing to catch?
7. 6BBEIf the horn is sounded in the town will the people not be full of fear? will evil come on a town if the Lord has not done it?BSBBSB: If a ram’s horn sounds in a city, do the people not tremble? If calamity comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?
8. 7BBECertainly the Lord will do nothing without making clear his secret to his servants, the prophets.BSBBSB: Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.
9. 8BBEThe cry of the lion is sounding; who will not have fear? The Lord God has said the word; is it possible for the prophet to keep quiet?BSBBSB: The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken—who will not prophesy?
10. 9BBEGive out the news in the great houses of Assyria and in the land of Egypt, and say, Come together on the mountains of Samaria, and see what great outcries are there, and what cruel acts are done in it.BSBBSB: Proclaim to the citadels of Ashdod and to the citadels of Egypt: “Assemble on the mountains of Samaria; see the great unrest in the city and the acts of oppression in her midst.”
11. 10BBEFor they have no knowledge of how to do what is right, says the Lord, who are storing up violent acts and destruction in their great houses.BSBBSB: “For they know not how to do right,” declares the LORD. “They store up violence and destruction in their citadels.”
12. 11BBEFor this reason, says the Lord, an attacker will come, shutting in the land on every side; and your strength will come down and your great houses will be made waste.BSBBSB: Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “An enemy will surround the land; he will pull down your strongholds and plunder your citadels.”
13. 12BBEThese are the words of the Lord: As the keeper of sheep takes out of the mouth of the lion two legs or part of an ear; so will the children of Israel be made safe, who are resting in Samaria on seats of honour or on the silk cushions of a bed.BSBBSB: This is what the LORD says: “As the shepherd snatches from the mouth of the lion two legs or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites dwelling in Samaria will be rescued having just the corner of a bed or the cushion of a couch.
14. 13BBEGive ear now, and give witness against the family of Jacob, says the Lord God, the God of armies;BSBBSB: Hear and testify against the house of Jacob, declares the Lord GOD, the God of Hosts.
15. 14BBEFor in the day when I give Israel punishment for his sins, I will send punishment on the altars of Beth-el, and the horns of the altar will be cut off and come down to the earth.BSBBSB: On the day I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will visit destruction on the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off, and they will fall to the ground.
16. 15BBEAnd I will send destruction on the winter house with the summer house; the ivory houses will be falling down and the great houses will come to an end, says the Lord.BSBBSB: I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses of ivory will also perish, and the great houses will come to an end,” declares the LORD.