3-7 Do two people walk hand in hand
    if they aren’t going to the same place?
Does a lion roar in the forest
    if there’s no carcass to devour?
Does a young lion growl with pleasure
    if he hasn’t caught his supper?
Does a bird fall to the ground
    if it hasn’t been hit with a stone?
Does a trap spring shut
    if nothing trips it?
When the alarm goes off in the city,
    aren’t people alarmed?
And when disaster strikes the city,
    doesn’t God stand behind it?
The fact is, God, the Master, does nothing
    without first telling his prophets the whole story.

The lion has roared—
    who isn’t frightened?
God has spoken—
    what prophet can keep quiet?

* * *

9-11 Announce to the forts of Assyria,
    announce to the forts of Egypt—
Tell them, “Gather on the Samaritan mountains, take a good, hard look:
    what a snake pit of brutality and terror!
They can’t—or won’t—do one thing right.” God said so.
    “They stockpile violence and blight.
Therefore”—this is God’s Word—“an enemy will surround the country.
    He’ll strip you of your power and plunder your forts.”

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Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing
    without revealing his plan(A)
    to his servants the prophets.(B)

The lion(C) has roared(D)
    who will not fear?
The Sovereign Lord has spoken—
    who can but prophesy?(E)

Proclaim to the fortresses of Ashdod(F)
    and to the fortresses of Egypt:
“Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria;(G)
    see the great unrest within her
    and the oppression among her people.”

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