1 Hear this word, youcows of Bashan, whoareon the mountain of Samaria,
Who oppress thepoor,
Who crush the needy,
Who say to your husbands, “Bringwine,let usdrink!”
2 The LordGodhas sworn by His holiness:
“Behold, the days shall come upon you
When He will take you awaywith fishhooks,
And your posterity with fishhooks.
3 You will go outthroughbrokenwalls,
Each one straight ahead of her,
And you will be cast into Harmon,”
Says theLord.
4 “Cometo Bethel and transgress,
AtGilgal multiply transgression;
Bring your sacrifices every morning,
Your tithes every three days.
5 Offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven,
Proclaimandannouncethe freewill offerings;
For this you love,
Youchildren of Israel!”
Says the LordGod.
Israel Did Not Accept Correction
6 “Also I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities,
And lack of bread in all your places;
Yet you have not returned to Me,”
Says theLord.
7 “I also withheld rain from you,
Whentherewerestill three months to the harvest.
I made it rain on one city,
I withheld rain from another city.
One part was rained upon,
And where it did not rain the part withered.
8 So twoorthree cities wandered to another city to drink water,
But they were not satisfied;
Yet you have not returned to Me,”
Says theLord.
9 “Iblasted you with blight and mildew.
When your gardens increased,
Your vineyards,
Your fig trees,
And your olive trees,
The locust devouredthem;
Yet you have not returned to Me,”
Says theLord.
10 “I sent among you a plagueafter the manner of Egypt;
Your young men I killed with a sword,
Along with your captive horses;
I made the stench of your camps come up into your nostrils;
Yet you have not returned to Me,”
Says theLord.
11 “I overthrewsomeof you,
As God overthrewSodom and Gomorrah,
And you were like a firebrand plucked from the burning;
Yet you have not returned to Me,”
Says theLord.
12 “Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel;
Because I will do this to you,
Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”
13 For behold,
He who forms mountains,
And creates the wind,
Who declares to man what his thoughtis,
And makes the morning darkness,
Who treads the high places of the earth—
TheLordGod of hostsisHis name.