1Hear this word , ye kine of Bashan , that are in the mountain of Samaria , that oppress the poor , that crush the needy , that say unto their lords, Bring, and let us drink . 2The Lord Jehovah hath sworn by his holiness , that , lo , the days shall come upon you , that they shall take you away with hooks , and your residue with fish-hooks. 3And ye shall go out at the breaches , every one straight before her ; and ye shall cast yourselves into Harmon , saith Jehovah .
The Consequences of Disobedience
4Come to Beth-el , and transgress ; to Gilgal , and multiply transgression ; and bring your sacrifices every morning , and your tithes every three days ; 5and offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened , and proclaim freewill-offerings and publish them : for this pleaseth you , O ye children of Israel , saith the Lord Jehovah .
God's Attempts to Call Israel to Repentance
6And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities , and want of bread in all your places ; yet have ye not returned unto me , saith Jehovah . 7And I also have withholden the rain from you , when there were yet three months to the harvest ; and I caused it to rain upon one city , and caused it not to rain upon another city : one piece was rained upon , and the piece whereupon it rained not withered . 8So two or three cities wandered unto one city to drink water , and were not satisfied : yet have ye not returned unto me , saith Jehovah . 9I have smitten you with blasting and mildew : the multitude of your gardens and your vineyards and your fig-trees and your olive-trees hath the palmer-worm devoured: yet have ye not returned unto me , saith Jehovah . 10I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt : your young men have I slain with the sword , and have carried away your horses ; and I have made the stench of your camp to come up even into your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me , saith Jehovah . 11I have overthrown cities among you , as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah , and ye were as a brand plucked out of the burning : yet have ye not returned unto me , saith Jehovah .
The Certainty of Judgment
12Therefore thus will I do unto thee , O Israel ; and because I will do this unto thee , prepare to meet thy God, O Israel . 13For , lo , he that formeth the mountains , and createth the wind , and declareth unto man what is his thought ; that maketh the morning darkness , and treadeth upon the high places of the earth— Jehovah , the God of hosts , is his name .