Judgment on Israel

6 Thus says the Lord:

“For three transgressions of Israel,    and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,because they sell the righteous for silver,    and the needy for a pair of sandals—7 those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth    and turn aside the way of the afflicted;a man and his father go into the same girl,    so that my holy name is profaned;8 they lay themselves down beside every altar    on garments taken in pledge,and in the house of their God, they drink    the wine of those who have been fined.

9 “Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them,    whose height was like the height of the cedars    and who was as strong as the oaks;I destroyed his fruit above    and his roots beneath.10 Also it was I who brought you up out of the land of Egypt    and led you forty years in the wilderness,    to possess the land of the Amorite.11 And I raised up some of your sons for prophets,    and some of your young men for Nazirites.    Is it not indeed so, O people of Israel?”declares the Lord.

12 “But you made the Nazirites drink wine,    and commanded the prophets,    saying, ‘You shall not prophesy.’

13 “Behold, I will press you down in your place,    as a cart full of sheaves presses down.14 Flight shall perish from the swift,    and the strong shall not retain his strength,    nor shall the mighty save his life;15 he who handles the bow shall not stand,    and he who is swift of foot shall not save himself,    nor shall he who rides the horse save his life;16 and he who is stout of heart among the mighty    shall flee away naked in that day,”declares the Lord.

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