1Ve jer, der misbruger jeres magt og undertrykker de svage. Om natten udtænker I onde planer og fører dem ud i livet, så snart det bliver lyst.2I begærer jeres nabos hus og marker og overtager dem uden at have skrupler. I tilraner jer andre folks ejendom, som er gået i arv fra deres forfædre.3Derfor siger jeg, Herren: „Også jeg har udtænkt en plan som straf for al jeres ondskab. Jeg vil lægge et tungt åg på jeres skuldre, og så er det jer, der kommer ned med nakken.”4Når det sker, vil jeres fjender håne jer ved at synge en klagesang for jer: „Åh, vi er helt knust, for Guds folk har mistet sit land. Herren har selv taget det fra os og delt det ud til ugudelige folkeslag.”5I, der har undertrykt andre, får ikke arvelod blandt Guds folk.6„Hold op med dine dommedagsprædikener,” siger folk. „Det kunne Gud da aldrig få sig selv til at gøre!”7Har Herren ikke været tålmodig med jer, Israels folk? Er det hans skyld, at han bliver nødt til at straffe jer? For de, der gør det gode, er det godt at høre profetens ord.8Herren siger: „I, som er mit folk, er nu blevet mine fjender. I kræver den fattiges kappe som betaling for et lån og river tøjet af folk, der går fredeligt på gaden.9I smider enker ud af deres hjem og fratager faderløse børn deres værdighed.10I har gjort landet urent med jeres synd, derfor kommer ulykken over jer. I bliver sendt bort fra det land, jeg gav jer, et land, hvor der skulle være ro og fred.11For I vil kun høre på løgneprofeter, der lover jer fest og glade dage.
Et løfte om genoprettelse
12Engang vil jeg kalde Israels folk sammen, for jeg vil samle den tiloversblevne rest. Jeg vil lede dem som en mægtig fåreflok på vej til en frodig græsmark. Der bliver et mylder af glade mennesker.13Jeg nedbryder fangenskabets port og fører mit folk hjem til deres eget land. Kongen selv går foran dem, Herren vil lede dem hjem.”
1Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in the power of their hand. (Salm 36,4; Es 10,1)2They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance. (Es 5,8)3Therefore thus says the Lord: behold, against this family I am devising disaster,[1] from which you cannot remove your necks, and you shall not walk haughtily, for it will be a time of disaster. (Es 2,11; Es 2,17; Jer 8,3; Amos 3,1; Amos 5,13)4In that day they shall take up a taunt song against you and moan bitterly, and say, “We are utterly ruined; he changes the portion of my people; how he removes it from me! To an apostate he allots our fields.” (4.Mos 23,7; Salm 68,6; Mika 1,15; Hab 2,6)5Therefore you will have none to cast the line by lot in the assembly of the Lord. (5.Mos 32,8; Josva 14,1)6“Do not preach”—thus they preach— “one should not preach of such things; disgrace will not overtake us.” (Amos 2,12; Amos 8,10; Amos 8,11)7Should this be said, O house of Jacob? Has the Lord grown impatient?[2] Are these his deeds? Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly? (Mika 2,6)8But lately my people have risen up as an enemy; you strip the rich robe from those who pass by trustingly with no thought of war.[3] (2.Krøn 28,8)9The women of my people you drive out from their delightful houses; from their young children you take away my splendor forever.10Arise and go, for this is no place to rest, because of uncleanness that destroys with a grievous destruction. (3.Mos 18,25; 5.Mos 12,9; Mika 1,11; Mika 1,16; Heb 13,14)11If a man should go about and utter wind and lies, saying, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,” he would be the preacher for this people! (Jer 5,13; Amos 2,12)12I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob; I will gather the remnant of Israel; I will set them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture, a noisy multitude of men. (2.Kong 25,11; Jer 31,10; Mika 4,7)13He who opens the breach goes up before them; they break through and pass the gate, going out by it. Their king passes on before them, the Lord at their head. (2.Kong 25,10; Es 52,12; Mika 4,10)