1 An Evil Time Woe to those who devise wickedness,Who work out evil on their beds!When the light of the morningcomes, they do it,For it is in the power of their hands.
2 And they covet fields and then tearthemaway,And houses, and takethemaway.And they oppress a man and his house,A man and his inheritance.
3 Therefore thus says Yahweh,“Behold, I am devising against this family an evildemiseFrom which you cannot remove your necks;And you will not walk haughtily,For it will be an evil time.
4 “On that day they will take up against you a 2:4 Or proverb tauntAnd 2:4 Lit lament utter a bitter wailingandsay,‘We are completely devastated!He exchanges the portion of my people;How He removes it from me!To the faithless one, He apportions our fields.’
5 “Therefore you will have no one 2:5Lit casting stretching a measuring lineFor you by lot in the assembly of Yahweh.
6 ¶‘Do not speak, dripping outwords,’ they saywhiledripping outwords.But if 2:6God’s prophets they do not drip outwordsconcerning these things,Dishonor will not be turned back.
7 “Is it being said, O house of Jacob:‘Is the Spirit of Yahweh impatient?Are these His deeds?’Do not My words do goodTo the one walking uprightly?
8 “ 2:8 Lit And yesterday And recently My people have arisen as an enemy—You strip the 2:8 Or ornaments robe off the garmentFrom unsuspecting passers-by,Fromthose returned from war.
9 “The women of My people you drive out,Eachonefrom her pleasant house.From her infants you take My splendor forever.
10 “Arise and go,For this is no place of restBecause of the uncleanness that wreaks destruction,A painful destruction.
11 “If a man walking after wind and lyingHad acted falselyand said,‘I will speak, dripping outwordsto you concerning wine and liquor,’He would be one who drips outwords as aspokesman to this people.
12 ¶“I will surely assemble all of you, Jacob;I will surely gather the remnant of Israel.I will put them together like sheep in the fold;Like a flock in the midst of its pastureThey will be noisy with men.
13 “The breaker goes up before them;They break out, pass through the gate, and go out by it.So their king goes on before them,And Yahweh at their head.”