Revised Standard Version RSV
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil upon their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in the power of their hand.
1
How horrible it will be for those who invent trouble and work out plans for disaster while in bed. When the morning dawns, they carry out their plans because they are able to.
2 They covet fields, and seize them; and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.
2
They desire [other people's] fields, so they seize them. They desire [people's] houses, so they take them. They cheat a man and his family, a man and his inheritance.
3 Therefore thus says the LORD: Behold, against this family I am devising evil, from which you cannot remove your necks; and you shall not walk haughtily, for it will be an evil time.
3
So this is what the LORD says: I'm planning a disaster to punish your family. You won't be able to rescue yourselves. You will no longer be able to walk proudly. This will be a time of disaster.
4 In that day they shall take up a taunt song against you, and wail with bitter lamentation, and say, "We are utterly ruined; he changes the portion of my people; how he removes it from me! Among our captors he divides our fields."
4
When that day comes, people will make fun of you. They will sing this sad song about you: "We are completely ruined. The LORD gives our people's possessions [to others]. He takes them from us. He divides our fields among our captors."
5 Therefore you will have none to cast the line by lot in the assembly of the LORD.
5
That is why none of you in the LORD's assembly will draw lots to divide your property.
6 "Do not preach" --thus they preach--"one should not preach of such things; disgrace will not overtake us."
6
Your prophets say, "Don't prophesy! Don't prophesy such things! Disgrace will never overtake us."
7 Should this be said, O house of Jacob? Is the Spirit of the LORD impatient? Are these his doings? Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly?
7
Should the descendants of Jacob be asked: Has the Spirit of the LORD become impatient with you? Has he done these things? Are his words good for those who live honestly?
8 But you rise against my people as an enemy; you strip the robe from the peaceful, from those who pass by trustingly with no thought of war.
8
Recently, my people have turned into enemies. You take coats from those who pass by without a care as they return from war.
9 The women of my people you drive out from their pleasant houses; from their young children you take away my glory for ever.
9
You force the women among my people out of their pleasant homes and take my glory away from their children forever.
10 Arise and go, for this is no place to rest; because of uncleanness that destroys with a grievous destruction.
10
Get up, and go away! This is not a place to rest! It will be destroyed, completely destroyed, because it offends me.
11 If a man should go about and utter wind and lies, saying, "I will preach to you of wine and strong drink," he would be the preacher for this people!
11
Liars and frauds may go around and say, "We will preach to you about wine and liquor." They would be just the type of preacher you want.
12 I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob, I will gather the remnant of Israel; I will set them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture, a noisy multitude of men.
12
I will surely gather all of you, Jacob. I will surely bring together the few people left in Israel. I will gather them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture. They will make a lot of noise because there will be so many people.
13 He who opens the breach will go up before them; they will break through and pass the gate, going out by it. Their king will pass on before them, the LORD at their head.
13
[The LORD] will open the way and lead them. They will break out, go through the gate, and leave. Their king will travel in front of them. The LORD will lead the people.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.