Indeed, the Lord God does nothing
without revealing His counsel
to His servants the prophets.

Can two walk together
without agreeing to meet?

Does a lion roar in the forest
when it has no prey?
Does a young lion growl from its lair
unless it has captured something?

If a ram’s horn is blown in a city,
aren’t people afraid?
If a disaster occurs in a city,
hasn’t the Lord done it?

I have known only you
out of all the clans of the earth;
therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities.

Does a bird land in a trap on the ground
if there is no bait for it?
Does a trap spring from the ground
when it has caught nothing?

A lion has roared;
who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken;
who will not prophesy?

Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod
and on the citadels in the land of Egypt:
Assemble on the mountains of Samaria
and see the great turmoil in the city
and the acts of oppression within it.

The Lord says:

As the shepherd snatches two legs
or a piece of an ear
from the lion’s mouth,
so the Israelites who live in Samaria
will be rescued
with only the corner of a bed
or the cushion of a couch.

Therefore, the Lord God says:

An enemy will surround the land;
he will destroy your strongholds
and plunder your citadels.

The people are incapable of doing right—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
those who store up violence and destruction
in their citadels.

I will demolish the winter house
and the summer house;
the houses inlaid with ivory will be destroyed,
and the great houses will come to an end.
This is the Lord’s declaration.

I will punish the altars of Bethel
on the day I punish Israel for its crimes;
the horns of the altar will be cut off
and fall to the ground.

Listen and testify against the house of Jacob—
this is the declaration of the Lord God,
the God of Hosts.

Listen to this message that the Lord has spoken against you, Israelites, against the entire clan that I brought from the land of Egypt: