1. Listen, nation of Israel,to my mournful message:
2. you, dearest Israel, have fallen,never to rise again—you lie deserted in your own land,with no one to help you up.
3. The Lord God has warned,“From every ten soldiersonly one will be left;from a thousand troops,only a hundred will survive.”
4. The Lord keeps saying,“Israel, turn back to meand you will live!
5. Don't go to Gilgal or Bethelor even to Beersheba.Gilgal will be dragged away,and Bethel will end upas nothing.”
6. Turn back to the Lord,you descendants of Joseph,and you will live.If you don't, the Lordwill attack like fire.Bethel will burn to the ground,and no one can save it.
7. You people are doomed!You twist the truthand trample on justice.
8. But the Lord created the starsand put them in place.He turns darkness to dawnand daylight to darkness;he scoops up the oceanand empties it on the earth.
9. God destroys mighty soldiersand strong fortresses.
10. You people hate judgesand honest witnesses;
11. you abuse the poor and demandheavy taxes from them.You have built expensive homes,but you won't enjoy them;you have planted vineyards,but you will get no wine.
12. I am the Lord, and I knowyour terrible sins.You cheat honest peopleand take bribes;you rob the poor of justice.
13. Times are so evilthat anyone with good sensewill keep quiet.
14. If you really want to live,you must stop doing wrongand start doing right.I, the Lord God All-Powerful,will then be on your side,just as you claim I am.