1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness
2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and
3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation
4 Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand
5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.
6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
7 Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but
8 For he saith,
9 Is
10 As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;
11 Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?
12 Wherefore it shall come to pass,
13 For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done
14 And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs
15 Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith?
16 Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire.
17 And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day;
18 And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standardbearer fainteth.
19 And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.
20 And it shall come to pass in that day,
21 The remnant shall return,
22 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea,
23 For the Lord
24 Therefore thus saith the Lord
25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction.
26 And the
27 And it shall come to pass in that day,
28 He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages:
29 They are gone over the passage: they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled.
30 Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth.
31 Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee.
32 As yet shall he remain at Nob that day: he shall shake his hand
33 Behold, the Lord, the
34 And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.