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Chapter 2

1

Woe to those who plan iniquity, and work out evil on their couches; In the morning light they accomplish it when it lies within their power.

2

¹ They covet fields, and seize them; houses, and they take them; They cheat an owner of his house, a man of his inheritance.

3

Therefore thus says the LORD: Behold, I am planning against this race an evil from which you shall not withdraw your necks; Nor shall you walk with head high, for it will be a time of evil.

4

On that day a satire shall be sung over you, and there shall be a plaintive chant: "Our ruin is complete, our fields are portioned out among our captors, The fields of my people are measured out, and no one can get them back!"

5

² Thus you shall have no one to mark out boundaries by lot in the assembly of the LORD.

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³ "Preach not," they preach, "let them not preach of these things!" The shame will not withdraw.

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How can it be said, O house of Jacob, "Is the LORD short of patience, or are such his deeds?" Do not my words promise good to him who walks uprightly?

8

But of late my people has risen up as an enemy: you have stripped off the mantle covering the tunic Of those who go their way in confidence, as though it were spoils of war.

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⁴ The women of my people you drive out from their pleasant houses; From their children you take away forever the honor I gave them.

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⁵ "Up! Be off, this is no place to rest"; For any trifle you exact a crippling pledge.

11

If one, acting on impulse, should make the futile claim: "I pour you wine and strong drink as my prophecy," then he would be the prophet of this people.

12

⁶ I will gather you, O Jacob, each and every one, I will assemble all the remnant of Israel; I will group them like a flock in the fold, like a herd in the midst of its corral; they shall not be thrown into panic by men.

13

With a leader to break the path they shall burst open the gate and go out through it; Their king shall go through before them, and the LORD at their head.