All this is because of Jacob’s transgression, because of the sins of the people of Israel. What is Jacob’s transgression? Is it not Samaria? What is Judah’s high place? Is it not Jerusalem?

Tell it not in Gath; weep not at all. In Beth Ophrah roll in the dust.

Pass by naked and in shame, you who live in Shaphir. Those who live in Zaanan will not come out. Beth Ezel is in mourning; it no longer protects you.

I will bring a conqueror against you who live in Mareshah. The nobles of Israel will flee to Adullam.

Therefore, the Lord says: “I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity.

Therefore you will have no one in the assembly of the Lord to divide the land by lot.

False Prophets

“Do not prophesy,” their prophets say. “Do not prophesy about these things; disgrace will not overtake us.”

You descendants of Jacob, should it be said, “Does the Lord become impatient? Does he do such things?” “Do not my words do good to the one whose ways are upright?

Get up, go away! For this is not your resting place, because it is defiled, it is ruined, beyond all remedy.

Leaders and Prophets Rebuked

Then I said, “Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel. Should you not embrace justice,

you who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones;

Then they will cry out to the Lord, but he will not answer them. At that time he will hide his face from them because of the evil they have done.

The seers will be ashamed and the diviners disgraced. They will all cover their faces because there is no answer from God.”

Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.”

He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken.

Why do you now cry aloud— have you no king? Has your ruler perished, that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor?

Writhe in agony, Daughter Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you must leave the city to camp in the open field. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued. There the Lord will redeem you out of the hand of your enemies.

But now many nations are gathered against you. They say, “Let her be defiled, let our eyes gloat over Zion!”

But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor.

A Promised Ruler From Bethlehem

Marshal your troops now, city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod.

The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for anyone or depend on man.

The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which mauls and mangles as it goes, and no one can rescue.

I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells.

I will destroy your idols and your sacred stones from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands.