Mourning for the House of Israel

1“Woe to those who are at ease in Zion,

to those who rest on the mountain of Samaria—

the famous men of the nations

to whom the house of Israel came!

2Cross over to Calneha and look around,

then go on to that great city ofb Hamath,

and from there go down to Gath of the Philistines.

Are you better than these kingdoms?

Or is their territory more extensive than yours?

3“Disbelieving that a day of evil will come,c

embracing opportunities to commit violence,d

4lying on ivory beds,

stretching out on your couches,

eating lambs from the flock,

and fattened calves from the stall,

5chanting to the sound of stringed instruments as if they were David,

composing songs to themselves as if they were musicians,

6drinking wine from bowls,

anointing themselves with the choicest of oils,

but not grieving on the occasion of Joseph’s ruin—

7therefore you will be the first to go into exile,

and the celebrations of those who are lounging will end.”

The LORD Swears an Oath

8“The Lord GOD has sworn by himself,”

declares the LORD, the God of the Heavenly Armies,

“I utterly detest the arrogance of Jacob;

I hate his fortresses;

and I will deliver up the city,

along with everyone in it.

9“And if there are ten men remaining in one house,

they will die.

10One’s relative will pick up the corpsee

to carry them from the house for burning,f

saying to whomever remains inside the house,

‘Is there anyone still with you?’

And he will say, ‘No.’

He will respond, ‘Be quiet,

because we do not mention the name “LORD”.’

11For indeed, the LORD is giving the command—

and he will smash the large house to rubble

and the small house into bits.

12“Horses don’t run over bare rock, do they?

One doesn’t plow rockg with oxen, does he?

But you have turned justice to gall,

and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness.h

13You rejoice in nothing worth mentioning—

that is, you keep on saying,

‘We captured Karnaim by our own strength of will

and by our own effort, didn’t we?’

14“So look, house of Israel! I will raise up a nation against you,”

declares the LORD, the God of the Heavenly Armies,

“and they will harass you from the entrance of Hamath

to the wadii of the wilderness.”