And as raiderswaitfor a man,[So] a bandof priestsmurderon the wayto Shechem;Surelythey have committedcrime.
Abrampassedthroughthe landas faras the siteof Shechem,to the oakof Moreh.Now the Canaanite[was] thenin the land.
Then JeroboambuiltShechemin the hillcountryof Ephraim,and livedthere. And he wentout from thereand builtPenuel.
Then we journeyedfrom the riverAhavaon the twelfthof the firstmonthto goto Jerusalem;and the handof our Godwas overus, and He deliveredus from the handof the enemyand the ambushesby the way.
Then the LORDsaidto me, "A conspiracyhas been foundamong the menof Judahand among the inhabitantsof Jerusalem.
"There is a conspiracyof her prophetsin her midstlike a roaringliontearingthe prey.They have devouredlives;they have takentreasureand preciousthings;they have mademanywidowsin the midstof her.
"Her princeswithinher are like wolvestearingthe prey,by sheddingblood[and] destroyinglivesin orderto getdishonestgain.
"Slanderousmenhave beenin you for the purposeof sheddingblood,and in you they have eatenat the mountain[shrines]. In your midstthey have committedactsof lewdness.
Thus I will make your lewdnessand your harlotry[brought] from the landof Egyptto ceasefrom you, so that you will not liftup your eyesto them or rememberEgyptanymore.'
"And thenI will uncoverher lewdnessIn the sightof her lovers,And noonewill rescueher out of My hand.
[There is] swearing,deception,murder,stealingand adultery.They employviolence,so that bloodshedfollowsbloodshed.
Hearthis,O priests!Giveheed,O houseof Israel!Listen,O houseof the king!For the judgmentapplies to you, For you have beena snareat MizpahAnd a netspreadout on Tabor.
The revoltershave gonedeepin depravity,But I will chastiseallof them.
When I would healIsrael,The iniquityof Ephraimis uncovered,And the evildeedsof Samaria,For they dealfalsely;The thiefentersin, Banditsraidoutside,
Nowhearthis,headsof the houseof JacobAnd rulersof the houseof Israel,Who abhorjusticeAnd twisteverythingthat is straight,
The godlypersonhas perishedfrom the land,And thereis noupright[person] among men.Allof them liein waitfor bloodshed;Eachof them huntsthe otherwith a net.
Her princeswithinher are roaringlions,Her judgesare wolvesat evening;They leavenothingfor the morning.
Nowthe Passoverand UnleavenedBread were twodaysaway;and the chief priestsand the scribeswere seekinghowto seizeHim by stealthand kill[Him];
Thereforethe chief priestsand the Phariseesconveneda council,and were saying,"Whatare we doing?For thismanis performingmanysigns.
And when they heard[this], they liftedtheir voicesto Godwith one accordand said,"O Lord,it is You who MADE THE HEAVENAND THE EARTHAND THE SEA,AND ALLTHAT IS IN THEM,
