Woe to the Oppressors
1 Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! When the morning is light, they practise it, Because it is in the power of their hand.
2 And they covet fields, and take them by violence; And houses, and take them away: So they oppress a man and his house, Even a man and his heritage.
3 Therefore thus saith the Lord ; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, From which ye shall not remove your necks; Neither shall ye go haughtily: For this time is evil.
4 In that day shall one take up a parable against you, And lament with a doleful lamentation, And say, We be utterly spoiled: He hath changed the portion of my people: How hath he removed it from me! Turning away he hath divided our fields.
5 Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot In the congregation of the Lord .
6 Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: They shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.
7 O thou that art named the house of Jacob, Is the spirit of the Lord straitened? Are these his doings? Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?
8 Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: Ye pull off the robe with the garment From them that pass by securely as men averse from war.
9 The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; From their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.
10 Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: Because it is polluted, it shall destroy you , even with a sore destruction.
11 If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying , I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; He shall even be the prophet of this people.
12 I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, As the flock in the midst of their fold: They shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.
13 The breaker is come up before them: They have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: And their king shall pass before them, And the Lord on the head of them.
