Woeto thosewho are at easein ZionAnd to those who [feel] securein the mountainof Samaria,The distinguishedmen of the foremostof nations,To whomthe houseof Israelcomes.
He boughtthe hillSamariafrom Shemerfor two talentsof silver;and he builton the hill,and namedthe citywhichhe builtSamaria,afterthe nameof Shemer,the ownerof the hill.
Our soulis greatlyfilledWith the scoffingof those whoare at ease,[And] with the contemptof the proud.
"For the waywardnessof the naivewill killthem, And the complacencyof foolswill destroythem.
Sinnersin Zionare terrified;Tremblinghas seizedthe godless."Whoamong us can livewith the consumingfire?Whoamong us can livewith continualburning?"
"Israelwas holyto the LORD,The firstof His harvest.Allwho ateof it becameguilty;Evilcameupon them," declaresthe LORD.'"
"Moabhas beenat easesincehis youth;He has also beenundisturbed,[like wine] on its dregs,And he has not been emptiedfrom vesselto vessel,Norhas he goneinto exile.Thereforehe retainshis flavor,And his aromahas not changed.
"Arise,goup againsta nationwhich is at ease,Which livessecurely,"declaresthe LORD."It has nogatesor bars;They dwellalone.
"I will goto the greatAnd will speakto them, For they knowthe wayof the LORD[And] the ordinanceof their God."But they too, with oneaccord,have brokenthe yoke[And] burstthe bonds.
"Do not trustin deceptivewords,saying,Thisis the templeof the LORD,the templeof the LORD,the templeof the LORD.'
Howlonelysitsthe cityThat was fullof people!She has becomelike a widowWhowas [once] greatamong the nations!She who was a princessamong the provincesHas becomea forcedlaborer!
"You onlyhave I chosenamongallthe familiesof the earth;ThereforeI will punishyou for allyour iniquities."
Proclaimon the citadelsin Ashdodand on the citadelsin the landof Egyptand say,"Assembleyourselves on the mountainsof Samariaand see[the] greattumultswithinher and [the] oppressionsin her midst.
Hearthisword,you cowsof Bashanwhoare on the mountainof Samaria,Who oppressthe poor,who crushthe needy,Who sayto your husbands,"Bringnow, that we may drink!"
"Therefore, I will make you gointo exilebeyondDamascus,"saysthe LORD,whose nameis the Godof hosts.
"[As for] those who swearby the guiltof Samaria,Who say,'As your godlives,O Dan,'And, 'As the wayof Beershebalives,'They will falland not riseagain."
"Allthe sinnersof My peoplewill dieby the sword,Those who say,The calamitywill not overtakeor confrontus.'
And I said,"Hearnow,headsof JacobAnd rulersof the houseof Israel.Is it not for you to knowjustice?
"It will comeabout at that timeThat I will searchJerusalemwith lamps,And I will punishthe menWho are stagnantin spirit,Who sayin their hearts,'The LORDwill not dogoodor evil!'
In the exercise of His willHe brought us forthby the wordof truth,sothat we would be a kindof first fruitsamong His creatures.
You have lived luxuriouslyon the earthand led a life of wanton pleasure;you have fattenedyour heartsin a dayof slaughter.
castingallyour anxietyon Him, becauseHe caresfor you.
Then the fivemendepartedand cameto Laishand sawthe peoplewhowere in it livingin security,after the mannerof the Sidonians,quietand secure;for therewas norulerhumiliating[them] for anythingin the land,and they were farfrom the Sidoniansand hadnodealingswith anyone.
