1 Woe to those who dream up wickedness

and prepare evil plans  * on their beds!

At morning light  * they accomplish it

because the power is in their hands.  *

2 They covet fields  * and seize them;  *

they also take houses.

They deprive a man of his home,  *

a person of his inheritance.  *

3 Therefore, the Lord says:

I am now planning  * a disaster

against this nation;  *

you cannot free your necks from it.  *

Then you will not walk so proudly  *

because it will be an evil time.  *

4 In that day one will take up  * a taunt against you

and lament mournfully,  *  saying,

"We are totally ruined!  *

He measures out the allotted land of my people.

How he removes it from me!

He allots our fields  * to traitors."

5 Therefore, there will be no one

in the assembly of the  Lord

to divide the land by casting lots.  *,*

6 "Quit your preaching,"  * they  *  preach.

"They should not preach these things;  *

shame will not overtake us."  *,*

7 House of Jacob, should it be asked,

"Is the Spirit of the  Lord  impatient?  *

Are these the things he does? "

Don’t my words bring good  *

to the one who walks uprightly?  *

8 But recently my people have risen up

like an enemy:  *

You strip off the splendid robe  *

from those who are passing through confidently,  *

like those returning from war.

9 You force  * the women of my people

out of their comfortable homes,

and you take my blessing  *,*

from their children forever.

10 Get up and leave,

for this is not your place of rest  *

because defilement  * brings destruction —

a grievous destruction!  *

11 If a man comes

and utters empty lies  *  —

"I will preach to you about wine and beer"  *  —

he would be just the preacher for this people!  *

12 I will indeed gather  * all of you, Jacob;

I will collect the remnant of Israel.  *

I will bring them together like sheep in a pen,

like a flock in the middle of its pasture.

It will be noisy with people.  *

13 One who breaks open the way

will advance before them;

they will break out, pass through the city gate,

and leave by it.

Their King will pass through before them,

the Lord as their leader.