¶ Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work² evil upon their beds! when³ the morning is light, they practise it, because⁴ it is in the power of their hand.

And they covet⁵ fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so⁶ they oppress⁷ a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.

Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family⁸ do⁹ I devise an evil, from¹⁰ which ye shall not remove your necks¹¹; neither shall ye go¹² haughtily: for¹³ this time is evil.

In that day shall¹⁴ one take up a parable against you, and lament¹⁵ with a doleful lamentation¹⁶, and say, We¹⁷ be utterly spoiled: he hath changed¹⁸ the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he¹⁹ hath divided our fields.

Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast²⁰ a cord by lot in the congregation²¹ of the LORD.

¶ Prophesy ye²² not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy²³ to them, that they²⁴ shall not take shame.

O thou that art named²⁵ the house of Jacob, is²⁶ the spirit of the LORD straitened²⁷? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh²⁸ uprightly²⁹?

Even of late³⁰ my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment³¹ from them that pass by securely as men averse from war.

The women³² of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children³³ have ye taken away my glory³⁴ for ever.

¶ Arise ye, and³⁵ depart; for³⁶ this is not your rest: because³⁷ it is polluted, it shall³⁸ destroy you, even with a sore destruction.

If a man³⁹ walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie⁴⁰, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall⁴¹ even be the prophet of this people.

¶ I will surely assemble⁴², O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put⁴³ them together as the sheep of Bozrah⁴⁴, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they⁴⁵ shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.

The breaker⁴⁶ is come up before them: they have⁴⁷ broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their⁴⁸ king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.