1
Alas for those who devise wickedness
and evil deeds 1 on their beds!
When the morning dawns, they perform it,
because it is in their power.
2
They covet fields, and seize them;
houses, and take them away;
they oppress householder and house,
people and their inheritance.
3
Therefore thus says the
Now, I am devising against this family an evil
from which you cannot remove your necks;
and you shall not walk haughtily,
for it will be an evil time.
4
On that day they shall take up a taunt song against you,
and wail with bitter lamentation,
and say, "We are utterly ruined;
the
how he removes it from me!
Among our captors 3 he parcels out our fields."
5
Therefore you will have no one to cast the line by lot
in the assembly of the
6
"Do not preach"--thus they preach--
"one should not preach of such things;
disgrace will not overtake us."
7
Should this be said, O house of Jacob?
Is the
Are these his doings?
Do not my words do good
to one who walks uprightly?
8
But you rise up against my people 4 as an enemy;
you strip the robe from the peaceful, 5
from those who pass by trustingly
with no thought of war.
9
The women of my people you drive out
from their pleasant houses;
from their young children you take away
my glory forever.
10
Arise and go;
for this is no place to rest,
because of uncleanness that destroys
with a grievous destruction. 6
11
If someone were to go about uttering empty falsehoods,
saying, "I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,"
such a one would be the preacher for this people!
12
I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob,
I will gather the survivors of Israel;
I will set them together
like sheep in a fold,
like a flock in its pasture;
it will resound with people.
13
The one who breaks out will go up before them;
they will break through and pass the gate,
going out by it.
Their king will pass on before them,
the