A word to Israel
6 The LORD proclaims: For three crimes of Israel, and for four, I won't hold back the punishment, because they have sold the innocent for silver, and those in need for a pair of sandals.
7
They crush the head of the poor into the dust of the earth, and push the afflicted out of the way. Father and son have intercourse with the same young woman, degrading my holy name.
8
They stretch out beside every altar on garments taken in loan; in the house of their god they drink wine bought with fines they imposed.
9
Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was as tall as cedar trees, and whose strength was as strong as oak trees. I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below.
10
Also I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and led you forty years in the wilderness, to lay claim to the land of the Amorite.
11
I raised up some of your children to be prophets and some of your youth to be nazirites. Isn't this so, people of Israel?
12
says the LORD. But you made the nazirites drink wine, and commanded the prophets, saying, "You won't prophesy."
13
So now I will oppress you, just like a cart is weighed down when it is full of harvested grain.
14
Fast runners will find no refuge; the strong will lose their strength; the mighty will be unable to save their lives.
15
Those who shoot the bow won't survive. Fast runners won't escape; those who ride horses won't save themselves.
16
The bravest warrior will flee away naked in that day,