1Hear this word, Israelites, that theLord speaks concerning you,

concerning the whole family I brought up from the land of Egypt:

2You alone I have known,*

among all the families of the earth;a

Therefore I will punish you

for all your iniquities.

3* Do two journey together

unless they have agreed?

4Does a lion roar in the forest

when it has no prey?

Does a young lion cry out from its den

unless it has seized something?

5Does a bird swoop down on a trap on the ground

when there is no lure for it?

Does a snare spring up from the ground

without catching anything?

6Does the ram’s horn sound in a city

without the people becoming frightened?

Does disaster befall a city

unless theLord has caused it?b

8The lion has roared,

who would not fear?c

The LordGod has spoken,

who would not prophesy?

9Proclaim this in the strongholds of Assyria,*

in the strongholds of the land of Egypt:

“Gather on the mount of Samaria,

and see the great disorders within it,

the oppressions within its midst.”*

10They do not know how to do what is right—

oracle of theLord—

Storing up in their strongholds

violence and destruction.

11Therefore thus says the LordGod:

An enemy shall surround the land,

tear down your fortresses,

and pillage your strongholds.

12Thus says theLord:

As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion

a pair of sheep’s legs or the tip of an ear,

So shall the Israelites escape,

those who dwell in Samaria,

With the corner of a couch

or a piece of a cot.*

13Hear and bear witness against the house of Jacob—

an oracle of the LordGod, the God of hosts:

14On the day when I punish Israel for its crimes,

I will also punish the altars of Bethel;

The horns of the altar shall be broken off

and fall to the ground.*d

15I will strike the winter house

and the summer house;

The houses of ivory shall lie in ruin,

and their many rooms shall be no more—

oracle of theLord.