Verse 1

Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! a when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.

(a) As soon as they rise, they execute their wicked devices of the night, and according to their ability hurt others.

Verse 4

In that day shall [one] take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, [and] say, b 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.

(b) Thus the Jews lament and say that there is no hope of restitution, seeing their possessions are divided among the enemies.

Verse 5

Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in c the congregation of the LORD.

(c) You will have no more lands to divide as you had in times past, and as you used to measure them in the Jubilee.

Verse 6

d Prophesy ye not, [say they to them that] prophesy: e they shall not prophesy to them, [that] they shall not take shame.

(d) Thus the people warn the prophets that they speak to them no more, for they cannot endure their threatenings.

(e) God says that they will not prophesy, nor receive any more of their rebukes or taunts.

Verse 7

O [thou that art] named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened? f [are] these his doings? do not my words do good to him g that walketh uprightly?

(f) Are these your works according to his Law?

(g) Do not the godly find my words comfortable?

Verse 8

Even h of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the i robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war.

(h) That is, in past times.

(i) The poor can have no benefit from them, but they rob them, as though they were enemies.

Verse 9

The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away k my glory for ever.

(k) That is, their substance and living, which is God's blessing, and as it were part of his glory.

Verse 10

Arise ye, and depart; for this [is] not [your] l rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy [you], even with a sore destruction.

(l) Jerusalem will not be your safeguard, but rather the cause of your destruction.

Verse 11

If a man m walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, [saying], n I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

(m) That is, show himself to be a prophet.

(n) He shows what prophets they delight in, that is, in flatterers, who tell them pleasant tales, and speak of their benefits.

Verse 12

I will surely assemble, O Jacob, o 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.

(o) To destroy you.

Verse 13

The p 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 q on the head of them.

(p) The enemy will break their gates and walls, and lead them into Chaldea.

(q) To drive them forward, and to help their enemies.