1Listen to this word which I take up for a lamentation over you, O house of Israel. 2"The virgin of Israel has fallen; 3For thus says the Lord JEHOVAH: "The city that went forth a thousand shall have a hundred left, 4For thus says JEHOVAH to the house of Israel: "Seek me, and you will live;¶ 5but do not seek Bethel, 6Seek JEHOVAH, and you will live; 7You who turn justice to wormwood, 8seek him who made the Pleiades and Orion, 9who brings sudden destruction on the strong, 10They hate him who reproves in the gate, 11Forasmuch therefore as you trample on the poor, 12For I know how many your offenses, 13Therefore a prudent person keeps silent in such a time, 14Seek good, and not evil, 15Hate evil, love good, 16Therefore thus says JEHOVAH, the God of Hosts, the Lord: "Wailing will be in all the broad ways; 17In all vineyards there will be wailing; 18"Woe to you who desire the day of JEHOVAH! 19As if a man fled from a lion, 20Won't the day of JEHOVAH be darkness, and not light? 21I hate, I despise your feasts, 22Yes, though you offer me your burnt offerings and meal offerings, 23Take away from me the noise of your songs! 24But let justice roll on like rivers, 25"Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, house of Israel? 26You also carried the tabernacle of Moloch, and Rephan your star god, your images which you made for yourselves. 27Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus," says JEHOVAH, whose name is the God of Hosts.