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.