Witnesses against Israel 1 WBS Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, BSB BSB: 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:
2 WBS You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. BSB BSB: “Only you have I known from all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
3 WBS Can two walk together, except they are agreed? BSB BSB: Can two walk together without agreeing where to go?
4 WBS Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he hath taken nothing? BSB BSB: 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?
5 WBS Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all? BSB BSB: 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?
6 WBS Shalt a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it ? BSB BSB: 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?
7 WBS Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret to his servants the prophets. BSB BSB: Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.
8 WBS The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy? BSB BSB: The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken—who will not prophesy?
9 WBS Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst of it, and the oppressed in the midst of it. BSB BSB: 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.”
10 WBS For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces. BSB BSB: “For they know not how to do right,” declares the LORD. “They store up violence and destruction in their citadels.”
11 WBS Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even around the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be plundered. BSB BSB: Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “An enemy will surround the land; he will pull down your strongholds and plunder your citadels.”
12 WBS Thus saith the LORD: As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch. BSB BSB: 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.
13 WBS Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts, BSB BSB: Hear and testify against the house of Jacob, declares the Lord GOD, the God of Hosts.
14 WBS That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will also visit the altars of Beth-el: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground. BSB BSB: 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.