Chapter 4
1 Listen to this word , you cows of Bashan , who are on the mountain of Samaria , who oppress the poor , who crush the needy , who tell their husbands, "Bring us drinks !"
2 The Lord GOD has sworn by his holiness , " Behold , the days shall come on you that they will take you away with hooks , and the last of you with fish hooks .
3 You will go out at the breaks in the wall, everyone straight before her ; and you will cast yourselves into Harmon ," says the LORD .
4 "Go to Bethel , and sin; to Gilgal , and sin more . Bring your sacrifices every morning , your tithes every three days ,
5 offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened , and proclaim free will offerings and brag about them ; for this pleases you , you children of Israel ," says the Lord GOD .
6 " I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities , and lack of bread in every town ; yet you haven’t returned to me ," says the LORD .
7 " I also have withheld the rain from you , when there were yet three months to the harvest ; and I caused it to rain on one city , and caused it not to rain on another city . One field was rained on , and the field where it didn’t rain withered .
8 So two or three cities staggered to one city to drink water , and were not satisfied ; yet you haven’t returned to me ," says the LORD .
9 " I struck you with blight and mildew many times in your gardens and your vineyards , and the swarming locusts have devoured your fig trees and your olive trees ; yet you haven’t returned to me ," says the LORD .
10 " I sent plagues amongst you like I did Egypt . I have slain your young men with the sword , and have carried away your horses . I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camp , yet you haven’t returned to me ," says the LORD .
11 " I have overthrown some of you , as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah , and you were like a burning stick plucked out of the fire ; yet you haven’t returned to me ," says the LORD .
12 " Therefore I will do this to you , Israel ; because I will do this to you , prepare to meet your God, Israel .
13 For , behold , he who forms the mountains , creates the wind , declares to man what is his thought , who makes the morning darkness , and treads on the high places of the earth: The LORD , the God of Armies , is his name ."