Chapter 2

Woe to them that devise⁶ iniquity, and work⁶ evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise⁴ it, because it is in the power of their hand.

And they covet¹ fields, and take [them] by violence;¹ and houses, and take [them] away:¹ so they oppress¹ a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.

Therefore thus saith¹ the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise⁶ an evil, from which ye shall not remove⁵⁵ your necks; neither shall ye go⁴ haughtily: for this time [is] evil.

In that day shall [one] take up⁴ a parable against you, and lament¹ with a doleful lamentation, [and] say,¹ We be utterly² spoiled:⁸ he hath changed⁵⁵ the portion of my people: how hath he removed⁵⁵ [it] from me! turning away³² he hath divided¹⁷ our fields.

Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast⁵⁶ a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD.

Prophesy⁵⁵ ye not, [say they to them that] prophesy:⁵⁵ they shall not prophesy⁵⁵ to them, [that] they shall not take⁴ shame.

O [thou that art] named⁷ the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened?¹ [are] these his doings? do not my words do good⁵⁵ to him that walketh⁶ uprightly?

Even of late my people is risen up³⁴ as an enemy:⁶ ye pull off⁵⁵ the robe with the garment from them that pass by⁶ securely as men averse⁷ from war.

The women of my people have ye cast out¹⁷ from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away⁴ my glory for ever.

Arise³ ye, and depart;³ for this [is] not [your] rest: because it is polluted,² it shall destroy¹⁷ [you], even with a sore¹² destruction.

If a man walking⁶ in the spirit and falsehood do lie,¹⁴ [saying], I will prophesy⁵⁵ unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet⁵⁶ of this people.

I will surely² assemble,⁴ O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely¹⁵ gather¹⁷ the remnant of Israel; I will put⁴ them together as the sheep of Bozrah, ¹²²⁴ as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise⁵⁵ by reason of [the multitude of] men.

The breaker⁶ is come up¹ before them: they have broken up,¹ and have passed through⁴ the gate, and are gone out⁴ by it: and their king shall pass⁴ before them, and the LORD on the head of them.