1 THE vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; * We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.

2 Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised.

3 The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?

4*Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.

5 If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?

6 How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!

7 All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; they that eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee: there is none understanding "in him.

8* Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau ?

9 And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter.

*

10 For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.

11 In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.

12 But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have † spoken proudly in the day of distress.

13 Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity;

14 Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.

15 For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.

16 For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been.

17 ¶ But upon mount Zion shall be "deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.

See 2 Kings xiv. 7.

2 battle. Behold, I have made thee small among 3 the nations: thou art greatly despised. The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of 2 the rock, whose 20r, Sela habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? 4 Though thou mount on high as the eagle, and though thy nest be set among the stars, I will bring thee down from thence, saith 5 the LORD. If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not steal till they had enough? if grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some 6 gleaning grapes? How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden treasures 7 sought up! All the men of thy confederacy have 4 brought thee on thy way, even to the 4 Or, border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; they that eat thy bread lay a snare under thee: there is none understanding in him. 8 Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding 9 out of the mount of Esau? And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end Or, of it that every one may be cut off from the mount 10 of Esau by slaughter. For the violence done

5

to thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, 11 and thou shalt be cut off for ever. In the day that thou stoodest 8 on the other side, in the day that strangers carried away his substance, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast 12 them. But look not thou on the day of thy lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of brother in 10 the day of his disaster, and rejoice not over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither speak proudly in the 13 day of distress. Enter not into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, look not thou on their affliction in the day of their calamity, neither lay ye hands on their substance 14 in the day of their calamity. And stand thou not in the crossway, to cut off those of his that escape; and deliver not up those of his 15 that remain in the day of distress. For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee; thy dealing shall return upon thine 16 own head. For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the nations drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and 12 swallow down, and shall be as though they had 17 not been. But in mount Zion there shall be those that escape, and it shall be holy; and the house of Jacob shall possess their posses18 sions. And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall burn among them, and devour them: and there shall not be any remaining to the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.

3 Or, the men

driven thee out

5 Or, thy bread they make&c.

& Or, wound

8 Or,

aloof 9 Or, forces

10 Or, the day that

he was made a stranger

11 Or,

recom

pence

12 Or, talk foolishly

19 And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.

20 And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south.

21 And * saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S.

1 Now the word of the LORD came unto "Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before

me.

3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

4 But the LORD † sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship † was like to be broken.

5 Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.

6 So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.

7 And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.

8 Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?

9 And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.

10 Then were the men + exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

11 Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea + may be calm unto us? for the seat wrought, and was tempestuous.

12 And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.

13 Nevertheless the men trowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.

14 Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.

15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea and the sea † ceased from her raging. 16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and toffered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows. 17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And *Jonah was in the t belly of the fish three days and three nights.

1

And

Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah 2 the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their 3 wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD; and he went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the 4 LORD. But the LORD 1 sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be bro5 ken. Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god; and they cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it unto them. But Jonah was gone down into the innermost parts of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. 6 So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will 7 think upon us, that we perish not. they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, 8 and the lot fell upon Jonah. Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; what is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art 9 thou? And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry 10 land. Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, What is this that thou hast done? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he 11 had told them. Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea grew more and 12 more tempestuous. And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is 13 upon you. Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get them back to the land; but they could not for the sea grew more and more 14 tempestuous against them. Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast 15 done as it pleased thee. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and 16 the sea ceased from her raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly; and they offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made 17 vows. And the LORD prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

1 Or.

hurled

[Ch. II. 1 in Heb.]

A. V.

* Ps. 120.

1.

|| Or, out of mine affiction. 1 Or, the grave.

+ Heb. heart.

*Ps. 69.1.

+ Heb. cuttings

off. Il Or, the pit.

* Ps. 50.

14, 23.

& 116.17.

Hos.14.2.

Heb. 13. 15.

*

5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.

6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from "corruption, O LORD my God.

7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of *thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. *Salvation is of the LORD.

2 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God

2 out of the fish's belly. And he said,

3

6

1

I called by reason of nine affliction unto the LORD,

And he answered me;

Out of the belly of 2 hell cried I,

And thou heardest my voice.

For thou didst cast me into the depth, in the heart of the seas,

And the flood was round about me;

All thy waves and thy billows passed over me. And I said, I am cast out from before thine eyes;

Yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.

The waters compassed me about, even to the soul;

The deep was round about me;

The weeds were wrapped about my head.

I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; The earth with her bars closed upon me for ever:

Yet hast thou brought up my life from 3 the pit, O LORD my God.

7

When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD:

10 And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

8

They that regard lying vanities

5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:

8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.

9* Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish

And my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

Forsake their own mercy.

But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice
of thanksgiving;

I will pay that which I have vowed.
Salvation is of the LORD.

10 And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

7

4

3 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah 2 the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Ninevch, that great city, and preach unto it the 3 preaching that I bid thee. So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceed4 ing great city, of three days' journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, 5 and Nineveh shall be overthrown. And the people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 6 And the tidings reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and laid his robe from him, and covered him with sack7 cloth, and sat in ashes. And he made proclamation and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink 8 water but let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and beast, and let them cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in 9 their hands. Who knoweth whether God will not turn and repent, and turn away from his 10 fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, which he said he would do unto them; and he did 4 it not. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, 2 and he was angry. And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I Shasted to flee unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and full of compassion, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy, and repentest thee of 3 the evil. Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is bet4 ter for me to die than to live. And the LORD 5 said, Doest thou well to be angry? Then Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a

A. V.

Il Or, palmcrist.

booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city. 6 And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his Kikajon. grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. 7 But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.

+ Heb.

+ Heb. rejoiced with great

joy.

Il Or, silent. Il Or, Art thou greatly

angry?
Il Or,

I am
greatly
angry.
Il Or,
spared.

+ Heb.
was

the son
of the
night.

8 And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a "vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.

9 And God said to Jonah, "Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, "I do well to be angry, even unto death.

10 Then said the LORD, Thou hast "had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:

11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city. 6 And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his evil case. So Jonah was ex7 ceeding glad because of the gourd. But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd, that it 8 withered. And it came to pass, when the sun arose, that God prepared a sultry east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is better for me to die 9 than to live. And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry even unto death. 10 And the LORD said, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a 11 night, and perished in a night: and should not I have pity on Nineveh, that great city; wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

R.V.

1 Or, Palma

Christi Heb. kikayon.

+ Heb. Hear, ye people, all of them. * Deut. 32. 1.

Is. 1. 2. + Heb. the

fulness thereof. *Is.26.21.

* Ps. 115.

3.

* Deut.

32. 13.

& 33. 29. * Ps. 97.5.

+ Heb. a

descent. + Heb. daughters of the owl.

Il Or, she is grievously sick of her wounds.

* 2 Sam. 1. 20. "That is, Dust.

* Jer. 6.

26.

Il Or,

thou

that

dwellest fairly.

+ Heb.
inha-
bitress.

* Is. 47.
2, 3.

| Or, the
country
of flocks.

il Or,

a place

near.

Il Or, was grieved.

|| Or, for.

1 THE word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

2+ Hear, all ye people; *hearken, O earth, and tall that therein is: and let the Lord God be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.

3 For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.

4 And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down †a steep place.

5 For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem?

6 Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof.

7 And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot. 8 Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls.

9 For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.

*

10 Declare ye it not at Gath, weep ye not at all: in the house of Aphrah* roll thyself in the dust. 11 Pass ye away, thou inhabitant of Saphir, having thy shame naked: the inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth in the mourning of Beth-ezel; he shall receive of you his standing. 12 For the inhabitant of Maroth "waited carefully for good but evil came down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem.

130 thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee.

14 Therefore shalt thou give presents "to

1

2

THE word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morashtite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

1 Heb.

the

fulness thereof.

Hear, ye peoples, all of you; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord God be witness 2 against you, the Lord 3 from his holy temple. For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the 4 earth. And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, as waters that are poured 5 down a steep place. For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem? 6 Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as the plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations 7 thereof. And all her graven images shall be beaten to pieces, and all her hires shall be burned with fire, and all her idols will I lay desolate for of the hire of an harlot hath she gathered them, and unto the hire of an 8 harlot shall they return. For this will I wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the jackals, and a mourning like the ostriches. 9 For her wounds are incurable: for it is come even unto Judah; it reacheth unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem. 10 Tell it not in Gath, weep not at all: at 3 Beth-le-Aphrah have I rolled myself in of dust. 11 the dust. Pass ye away, O inhabitant of Shaphir, in nakedness and shame: the inhabitant of Zaanan is not come forth; the wailing of Beth-ezel shall take from you the 12 6 stay thereof. For the inhabitant of Maroth 7 waiteth anxiously for good: because evil is come down from the LORD unto the gate of 13 Jerusalem. Bind the chariot to the swift steed, O inhabitant of Lachish: she was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion; for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee. 14 Therefore shalt thou give a parting gift to

A. V.

#That is, A lie. Il Or, the glory of Israel shall come,&c.

* Is. 22. 12.

* Is. 5. 8.

11 Or, defraud.

+ Heb.

with a lamentation of lamentations. il Or, instead of restoring. * Deut. 32. 8, 9. Or, Prophesy not as

they pro-
phesy.
+ Heb.

Drop,
&c.

* Is. 30.

10.

# Or, shortened? + Heb.

Moresheth-gath: the houses of "Achzib shall be a lie to the kings of Israel.

15 Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: he shall come unto Adullam the glory of Israel.

16 Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.

2 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¶0 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 Event 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 upright? of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

+ Heb.
yester-
day.

+ Heb.

over

against

a gar-
ment.

" Or,
wives.

#Or, walk with the wind, and lie falsely.

*ch.2.11.

+ Heb. from a vision. + Heb.

from divining.

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.

3 And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment?

2 Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones;

3 Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.

4 Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.

5 Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him. 6 Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.

7 Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the di

Moresheth-gath: the houses of Achzib shall be 15 1a deceitful thing unto the kings of Israel. I will yet bring unto thee, O 2 inhabitant of Mareshah, him that shall possess thee: the glory of Israel shall come even unto Adullam. 16 Make thee bald, and poll thee for the children of thy delight: enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.

2 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 2 power of their hand. And they covet fields, and seize them; and houses, and take them away: and they oppress a man and his 3 house, even a man and his heritage. 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 walk haughtily; for it is an evil 4 time. In that day shall they take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he changeth the portion of my people: how doth he remove it from me! to 5 the rebellious he divideth our fields. Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast the line by lot in the congregation of the 6 LORD. Prophesy ye not, thus they prophesy. They shall not prophesy to these: 7 reproaches shall not depart. Shall it be said, O house of Jacob, Is the spirit of the LORD 9 straitened? are these his doings? Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly? But 10 of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye strip the robe from off the garment from them that pass by securely as men 9 averse from war. The women of my people ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their young children ye take away my glory for ever. 10 Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because of uncleanness 11 that destroyeth, even 11 with a grievous destruction. If a man walking 12 in wind 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 a flock in the midst of their pasture, they shall make great noise by 13 reason of the multitude of men. The breaker is gone up before them: they have broken forth and passed on to the gate, and are gone out thereat: and their king is passed on before them, and the LORD at the head of them.

3 And I said, Hear, I pray you, ye heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: is it 2 not for you to know judgement? who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off 3 their bones; who also eat the flesh of my people; and they flay their skin from off them, and break their bones: yea, they chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the 4 caldron. Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not answer them: yea, he will hide his face from them at that time, according as 5 they have wrought evil in their doings. Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people to err; that bite with their teeth and cry, Peace; and whoso putteth not into their mouths, they even 13 prepare war a6 gainst him: Therefore it shall be night unto you, that ye shall have no vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be black over them. 7 And the seers shall be ashamed, and the di

R.V.

1 Heb. achzab.

2 Heb. inhabitress.

3 Or, vulture

4 Or, with the lamentation, It is done; and say &c.

5 Or,
depart
from

6 Or, Pro-
phesy
ye not,
they are
ever pro-
phesy-
ing, say
they.
Heb.
Drop &c.

See
Amos
vii. 16.
7 Or, of
these
things:

their re

proaches

never
cease

8 Or,
O thou
that art
named
the house
of Jacob
9 Or, im-
patient
Heb.
short-
ened.
10 Heb.
yester-

day.

11 The Sept. has, ye shall be destroyed

with &c. 12 Or, in a spirit of falsehood

13 Heb. sanctify.