^{1 Ref} Hear ye this word which I take up for a lamentation over you, O house of Israel.

^{2 Ref} The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is cast down upon her land; there is none to raise her up.

^{3 Ref} For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: The city that went forth a thousand shall have a hundred left, and that which went forth a hundred shall have ten left, to the house of Israel.

^{4 Ref} For thus saith Jehovah unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live;

^{5 Ref} but seek not Beth-el, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beer-sheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Beth-el shall come to nought.

^{6 Ref} Seek Jehovah, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, and there be none to quench it in Beth-el.

^{7 Ref} Ye who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth,

^{8 Ref} `seek him' that maketh the Pleiades and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night; that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth (Jehovah is his name);

^{9 Ref} that bringeth sudden destruction upon the strong, so that destruction cometh upon the fortress.

^{10 Ref} They hate him that reproveth in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.

^{11 Ref} Forasmuch therefore as ye trample upon the poor, and take exactions from him of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink the wine thereof.

^{12 Ref} For I know how manifold are your transgressions, and how mighty are your sins-ye that afflict the just, that take a bribe, and that turn aside the needy in the gate `from their right'.

^{13 Ref} Therefore he that is prudent shall keep silence in such a time; for it is an evil time.

^{14 Ref} Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live; and so Jehovah, the God of hosts, will be with you, as ye say.

^{15 Ref} Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish justice in the gate: it may be that Jehovah, the God of hosts, will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

^{16 Ref} Therefore thus saith Jehovah, the God of hosts, the Lord: Wailing shall be in all the broad ways; and they shall say in all the streets, Alas! Alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful in lamentation to wailing.

^{17 Ref} And in all vineyards shall be wailing; for I will pass through the midst of thee, saith Jehovah.

^{18 Ref} Woe unto you that desire the day of Jehovah! Wherefore would ye have the day of Jehovah? It is darkness, and not light.

^{19 Ref} As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

^{20 Ref} Shall not the day of Jehovah be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

^{21 Ref} I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

^{22 Ref} Yea, though ye offer me your burnt-offerings and meal-offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts.

^{23 Ref} Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.

^{24 Ref} But let justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

^{25 Ref} Did ye bring unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?

^{26 Ref} Yea, ye have borne the tabernacle of your king and the shrine of your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.

^{27 Ref} Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith Jehovah, whose name is the God of hosts.

^{1 Ref} Listen to this word which I take up for a lamentation over you, O house of Israel.

^{2 Ref} "The virgin of Israel has fallen; She shall rise no more. She is cast down on her land; There is no one to raise her up."

^{3 Ref} For thus says the Lord Yahweh: "The city that went forth a thousand shall have a hundred left, And that which went forth one hundred shall have ten left to the house of Israel."

^{4 Ref} For thus says Yahweh to the house of Israel: "Seek me, and you will live;

^{5 Ref} But don't seek Bethel, Nor enter into Gilgal, And don't pass to Beersheba: For Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, And Bethel shall come to nothing.

^{6 Ref} Seek Yahweh, and you will live; Lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, And it devour, and there be no one to quench it in Bethel.

^{7 Ref} You who turn justice to wormwood, And cast down righteousness to the earth:

^{8 Ref} Seek him who made the Pleiades and Orion, And turns the shadow of death into the morning, And makes the day dark with night; Who calls for the waters of the sea, And pours them out on the surface of the earth, Yahweh is his name,

^{9 Ref} Who brings sudden destruction on the strong, So that destruction comes on the fortress.

^{10 Ref} They hate him who reproves in the gate, And they abhor him who speaks blamelessly.

^{11 Ref} Forasmuch therefore as you trample on the poor, And take taxes from him of wheat: You have built houses of hewn stone, But you will not dwell in them. You have planted pleasant vineyards, But you shall not drink their wine.

^{12 Ref} For I know how many your offenses, And how great are your sins-- You who afflict the just, Who take a bribe, And who turn aside the needy in the courts.

^{13 Ref} Therefore he who is prudent shall keep silence in such a time; For it is an evil time.

^{14 Ref} Seek good, and not evil, That you may live; And so Yahweh, the God of hosts, will be with you, As you say.

^{15 Ref} Hate evil, love good, And establish justice in the courts. It may be that Yahweh, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph."

^{16 Ref} Therefore thus says Yahweh, the God of hosts, the Lord: "Wailing will be in all the broad ways; And they will say in all the streets, 'Alas! Alas!' And they will call the farmer to mourning, And those who are skillful in lamentation to wailing.

^{17 Ref} In all vineyards there will be wailing; For I will pass through the midst of you," says Yahweh.

^{18 Ref} "Woe to you who desire the day of Yahweh! Why do you long for the day of Yahweh? It is darkness, And not light.

^{19 Ref} As if a man fled from a lion, And a bear met him; Or he went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, And a snake bit him.

^{20 Ref} Will the day of Yahweh not be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it?

^{21 Ref} I hate, I despise your feasts, And I can't stand your solemn assemblies.

^{22 Ref} Yes, though you offer me your burnt offerings and meal-offerings, I will not accept them; Neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat animals.

^{23 Ref} Take away from me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.

^{24 Ref} But let justice roll on like rivers, And righteousness like a mighty stream.

^{25 Ref} "Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, house of Israel?

^{26 Ref} Yes, you have borne the tent of your king and the shrine of your images, the star of your god, which you made for yourselves.

^{27 Ref} Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus," says Yahweh, whose name is the God of hosts.