6
Thus says the
For three transgressions of Israel,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; 1
because they sell the righteous for silver,
and the needy for a pair of sandals--
7
they who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth,
and push the afflicted out of the way;
father and son go in to the same girl,
so that my holy name is profaned;
8
they lay themselves down beside every altar
on garments taken in pledge;
and in the house of their God they drink
wine bought with fines they imposed.
9
Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them,
whose height was like the height of cedars,
and who was as strong as oaks;
I destroyed his fruit above,
and his roots beneath.
10
Also I brought you up out of the land of Egypt,
and led you forty years in the wilderness,
to possess the land of the Amorite.
11
And I raised up some of your children to be prophets
and some of your youths to be nazirites. 2
Is it not indeed so, O people of Israel?
+qsays the
12
But you made the nazirites 3 drink wine,
and commanded the prophets,
saying, "You shall not prophesy."
13
So, I will press you down in your place,
just as a cart presses down
when it is full of sheaves. 4
14
Flight shall perish from the swift,
and the strong shall not retain their strength,
nor shall the mighty save their lives;
15
those who handle the bow shall not stand,
and those who are swift of foot shall not save themselves,
nor shall those who ride horses save their lives;
16
and those who are stout of heart among the mighty
shall flee away naked in that day,
+qsays the