The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 Listen to this, Israel. God is calling you to account - and I mean all of you, everyone connected with the family that he delivered out of Egypt. Listen!
1
Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
2 "Out of all the families on earth, I picked you. Therefore, because of your special calling, I'm holding you responsible for all your sins."
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You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
3 Do two people walk hand in hand if they aren't going to the same place?
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Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
4 Does a lion roar in the forest if there's no carcass to devour? Does a young lion growl with pleasure if he hasn't caught his supper?
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Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?
5 Does a bird fall to the ground if it hasn't been hit with a stone? Does a trap spring shut if nothing trips it?
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Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
6 When the alarm goes off in the city, aren't people alarmed? And when disaster strikes the city, doesn't God stand behind it?
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Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
7 The fact is, God, the Master, does nothing without first telling his prophets the whole story.
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Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
8 The lion has roared - who isn't frightened? God has spoken - what prophet can keep quiet?
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The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
9 Announce to the forts of Assyria, announce to the forts of Egypt - Tell them, "Gather on the Samaritan mountains, take a good, hard look: what a snake pit of brutality and terror!
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Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof.
10 They can't - or won't - do one thing right." God said so. "They stockpile violence and blight.
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For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.
11 Therefore" - this is God's Word - "an enemy will surround the country. He'll strip you of your power and plunder your forts."
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Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.
12 God's Message: "In the same way that a shepherd trying to save a lamb from a lion Manages to recover just a pair of legs or the scrap of an ear, So will little be saved of the Israelites who live in Samaria - A couple of old chairs at most, the broken leg of a table.
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Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.
13 "Listen and bring witness against Jacob's family" - this is God's Word, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!
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Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,
14 "Note well! The day I make Israel pay for its sins, pay for the sin-altars of worship at Bethel, The horned altars will all be dehorned and scattered around.
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That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.
15 I'll tear down the winter palace, smash the summer palace - all your fancy buildings. The luxury homes will be demolished, all those pretentious houses." God's Decree.
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And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The King James Version is in the public domain.