1
Hear this word, ye cows of Bashan, that
are in the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.
2
The Lord GOD has sworn by his holiness that, behold, the days shall come upon you that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity in fishing boats.
3
And ye shall go forth by the breaches one after another, and ye shall be cast out of the palace, saith the LORD.
4
Go to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal increase the rebellion; and bring your sacrifices early
in the morning and your tithes every three years:
5
and offer a sacrifice of praise with leaven, and proclaim
and publish the free
will offerings for this is the way you like it, O ye sons of Israel, said the Lord GOD.
6
I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities and want of bread in all your places: yet ye have not returned unto me, said the LORD.
7
And also I have withheld 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 upon which it did not rain withered.
8
So two or three cities wandered unto one city to drink water, but they were not satisfied, yet ye have not returned unto me, said the LORD.
9
I have smitten you with
the east wind and with
the caterpillar; your many gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees were devoured by the locust; yet ye have never returned unto me, said the LORD.