1Hear{H8085} ye this word{H1697} which I take up{H5375} for a lamentation{H7015} over you, O house{H1004} of Israel.{H3478}
2The virgin{H1330} of Israel{H3478} is fallen;{H5307} she shall no more{H3254} rise:{H6965} she is cast down{H5203} upon her land;{H127} there is none to raise her up.{H6965}
3For thus saith{H559} the Lord{H136} Jehovah:{H3069} The city{H5892} that went forth{H3318} a thousand{H505} shall have a hundred{H3967} left,{H7604} and that which went forth{H3318} a hundred{H3967} shall have ten{H6235} left,{H7604} to the house{H1004} of Israel.{H3478}
4For thus saith{H559} Jehovah{H3068} unto the house{H1004} of Israel,{H3478} Seek{H1875} ye me, and ye shall live;{H2421}
5but seek{H1875} not Beth-el,{H1008} nor enter{H935} into Gilgal,{H1537} and pass{H5674} not to Beer-sheba:{H884} for Gilgal{H1537} shall surely{H1540} go into captivity,{H1540} and Beth-el{H1008} shall come to nought.{H205}
6Seek{H1875} Jehovah,{H3068} and ye shall live;{H2421} lest he break out{H6743} like fire{H784} in the house{H1004} of Joseph,{H3130} and it devour,{H398} and there be none to quench{H3518} it in Beth-el.{H1008}
7Ye who turn{H2015} justice{H4941} to wormwood,{H3939} and cast down{H3240} righteousness{H6666} to the earth,{H776}
8[ seek him] that maketh{H6213} the Pleiades{H3598} and Orion,{H3685} and turneth{H2015} the shadow of death{H6757} into the morning,{H1242} and maketh the day{H3117} dark{H2821} with night;{H3915} that calleth{H7121} for the waters{H4325} of the sea,{H3220} and poureth them out{H8210} upon the face{H6440} of the earth{H776} (Jehovah{H3068} is his name);{H8034}
9that bringeth{H1082} sudden destruction{H7701} upon the strong,{H5794} so that destruction{H7701} cometh{H935} upon the fortress.{H4013}
10They hate{H8130} him that reproveth{H3198} in the gate,{H8179} and they abhor{H8581} him that speaketh{H1696} uprightly.{H8549}
11Forasmuch{H3282} therefore as ye trample{H1318} upon the poor,{H1800} and take{H3947} exactions{H4864} from him of wheat:{H1250} ye have built{H1129} houses{H1004} of hewn stone,{H1496} but ye shall not dwell{H3427} in them; ye have planted{H5193} pleasant{H2531} vineyards,{H3754} but ye shall not drink{H8354} the wine{H3196} thereof.
12For I know{H3045} how manifold{H7227} are your transgressions,{H6588} and how mighty{H6099} are your sins—{H2403} ye that afflict{H6887} the just,{H6662} that take{H3947} a bribe,{H3724} and that turn aside{H5186} the needy{H34} in the gate{H8179} [from their right].
13Therefore he that is prudent{H7919} shall keep silence{H1826} in such a time;{H6256} for it is an evil{H7451} time.{H6256}
14Seek{H1875} good,{H2896} and not evil,{H7451} that ye may live;{H2421} and so Jehovah,{H3068} the God{H430} of hosts,{H6635} will be with you, as ye say.{H559}
15Hate{H8130} the evil,{H7451} and love{H157} the good,{H2896} and establish{H3322} justice{H4941} in the gate:{H8179} it may be that Jehovah,{H3068} the God{H430} of hosts,{H6635} will be gracious{H2603} unto the remnant{H7611} of Joseph.{H3130}
16Therefore thus saith{H559} Jehovah,{H3068} the God{H430} of hosts,{H6635} the Lord:{H136} Wailing{H4553} shall be in all the broad{H7339} ways; and they shall say{H559} in all the streets,{H2351} Alas!{H1930} Alas!{H1930} and they shall call{H7121} the husbandman{H406} to mourning,{H60} and such as are skilful{H3045} in lamentation{H5092} to wailing.{H4553}
17And in all vineyards{H3754} shall be wailing;{H4553} for I will pass{H5674} through{H7130} the midst of thee, saith{H559} Jehovah.{H3068}
18Woe{H1945} unto you that desire{H183} the day{H3117} of Jehovah!{H3068} Wherefore{H4100} would ye have the day{H3117} of Jehovah?{H3068} It is darkness,{H2822} and not light.{H216}
19As if a man{H376} did flee{H5127} from{H6440} a lion,{H738} and a bear{H1677} met{H6293} him; or went{H935} into the house{H1004} and leaned{H5564} his hand{H3027} on the wall,{H7023} and a serpent{H5175} bit{H5391} him.
20Shall not the day{H3117} of Jehovah{H3068} be darkness,{H2822} and not light?{H216} even very dark,{H651} and no brightness{H5051} in it?
21I hate,{H8130} I despise{H3988} your feasts,{H2282} and I will take no delight{H7306} in your solemn assemblies.{H6116}
22Yea, though ye offer{H5927} me your burnt-offerings{H5930} and meal-offerings,{H4503} I will not accept{H7521} them; neither will I regard{H5027} the peace-offerings{H8002} of your fat beasts.{H4806}
23Take thou away{H5493} from me the noise{H1995} of thy songs;{H7892} for I will not hear{H8085} the melody{H2172} of thy viols.{H5035}
24But let justice{H4941} roll down{H1556} as waters,{H4325} and righteousness{H6666} as a mighty{H386} stream.{H5158}
25Did ye bring{H5066} unto me sacrifices{H2077} and offerings{H4503} in the wilderness{H4057} forty{H705} years,{H8141} O house{H1004} of Israel?{H3478}
26Yea, ye have borne{H5375} the tabernacle{H5522} of your king{H4428} and the shrine{H3594} of your images,{H6754} the star{H3556} of your god,{H430} which ye made{H6213} to yourselves.
27Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity{H1540} beyond{H1973} Damascus,{H1834} saith{H559} Jehovah,{H3068} whose name{H8034} is the God{H430} of hosts.{H6635}