Chapter 3

1 Hear ye this word which Jehovah pronounces Against you, children of Israel--against the whole family, Which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,--

2 "Only you have I known of all the families of the earth, "I will therefore visit on you all your iniquities."

3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Will a young lion roar in his den, when nothing is taken?

5 Will a bird fall into a snare on the ground without a fowler? Will a fowler take up his snare from the ground before he catches?

6 Shall a trumpet sound in a city, and the people tremble not? Shall there be an evil in a city, which Jehovah hath not done?

7 For nothing will the Lord Jehovah do, Except he has revealed his secret to his servants the Prophets.

8 The lion hath roared, who would not fear? The Lord Jehovah hath spoken, who would not prophesy?

9 Publish in the palaces of Ashdod, And in the palaces of the land of Egypt, and say,-- "Assemble ye on the mountains of Samaria, "And see the great tumults within it, "And the oppressions in the midst of it."

10 And they know not how to do right, saith Jehovah,-- Treasuring up the fruit of robbery and plunder in their palaces.

11 Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah,-- Lo, an adversary! And one around the land! And he will take from thee thy strength, And plundered shall be thy palaces.

12 Thus saith Jehovah,-- As when a shepherd snatches from the mouth of a lion Two legs and the extreme part of the ear, So shall be rescued the children of Israel, Who dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, And in Damascus on a couch.

13 Hear ye and testify to the house of Israel, Saith the Lord Jehovah, the God of hosts,--

14 That in the day in which I shall visit upon him the sins of Israel, I will also visit the altars of Bethel; And broken shall be the horns of the altar, And they shall fall to the ground;

15 And I will smite the winter-house with the summer-house, And perish shall the houses of ivory, And come to an end shall the great houses, saith Jehovah.