1 “Hear this word, you who are rich in possessions in the city of Samaria, who wrong the poor and oppress the needy, who say to their nobles, ‘Give us power so that we can plunder!’” 2 The Lord God has sworn by his holiness that, behold, the days are coming upon you and the nations shall carry you off upon their shields, and your daughters in fishermen’s boats. 3 They shall break down the wall upon you and they shall lead you out headlong like women and deport you beyond the mountains of Armenia,” says the Lord. 4 “They came to Bethel and rebelled, in Gilgal they increased sinning,⁠a bringing your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days. 5 You collect a free-will offering by violence and bring it with a song, saying, ‘This is for acceptance.’ For you love that sort of thing, O people of Israel,” says the Lord God. 6 “But I gave you dullness of teeth in all your cities and lack of food in all your settlements; yet you did not return to my worship,” says the Lord. 7 “But I withheld the rain from you three months before the time of the harvest; and I would send down rain on one city and send down no rain on another city; rain would fall on one property but another property, on which rain did not fall, would become parched. 8 Two or three cities would stagger with thirst to one city to drink water, but they would not be sated; yet you did not return to my worship,” says the Lord. 9 “I smote you with blight and mildew; the multitude of your gardens and vineyards, your fig trees and olive trees the crawling locust devoured; yet you did not return to my worship,” says the Lord. 10 “I sent against you death as in the way of Egypt; I slew your young men with the sword, with your captured horses; I made the stench of your camp rise up against your face, yet you did not return to my worship,” says the Lord. 11 “My Memra loathed you just as the Lord loathed Sodom and Gomorrah; and you were like a brand snatched from the fire; yet you did not return to my worship,” says the Lord. 12 Therefore this is what I will do to you, O Israel. Because you have not returned to the law, I will do this to you. Adorn yourself to receive the teaching of the law of your God, O Israel.” 13 For, behold, he who formed the mountains and created the wind, is revealing himself to tell men what his works are; to prepare light for the righteous ones like the light of the morning that gets ever stronger, and to bring darkness upon the wicked, so as to destroy the wicked of the earth; the Lord God of hosts is his name.” 14 For, behold, the God who forms the embryo in its mother’s womb and creates in it the breath of life and brings it into the world reveals Himself to tell His wonders to the sons of men. He puts the power of speech in its mouth, He puts light for it in its eyes, and knowledge and intelligence in its mind; He gives it strength to walk upon the earth. The Lord God of Hosts is His name.