3:1  Hear this word which the LORD has spoken against you, sons of Israel, against the entire family which He brought up from the land of Egypt:

3:2  "You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities."

3:3  Do two men walk together unless they have made an appointment?

3:4  Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Does a young lion growl from his den unless he has captured {something?}

3:5  Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no bait in it? Does a trap spring up from the earth when it captures nothing at all?

3:6  If a trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble? If a calamity occurs in a city has not the LORD done it?

3:7  Surely the Lord GOD does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets.

3:8  A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy?

3:9  Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt and say, "Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria and see {the} great tumults within her and {the} oppressions in her midst.

3:10  "But they do not know how to do what is right, declares the LORD, "these who hoard up violence and devastation in their citadels.""

3:11  Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, "An enemy, even one surrounding the land, Will pull down your strength from you And your citadels will be looted."

3:12  Thus says the LORD, "Just as the shepherd snatches from the lion's mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear, So will the sons of Israel dwelling in Samaria be snatched away-- With {the} corner of a bed and {the} cover of a couch!

3:13  "Hear and testify against the house of Jacob, Declares the Lord GOD, the God of hosts."

3:14  "For on the day that I punish Israel's transgressions, I will also punish the altars of Bethel; The horns of the altar will be cut off And they will fall to the ground.

3:15  "I will also smite the winter house together with the summer house; The houses of ivory will also perish And the great houses will come to an end, Declares the LORD."