1Woe to them that deviseiniquity, and workevil upon their beds! when the morningislight, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.
2
And they covetfields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.
3
Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye gohaughtily: for this time is evil.
4
In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a dolefullamentation, and say, We be utterlyspoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath divided our fields.
5
Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD.
6Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not takeshame.
7
O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORDstraitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walkethuprightly?
8
Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robewith the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war.
9
The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasanthouses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.
10Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a soredestruction.
11If a manwalking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.
12
I will surelyassemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surelygather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.
13
The breaker is come upbefore them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall passbefore them, and the LORD on the head of them.