4. The Lord says this to the nation of Israel: “Come looking for me and live.
5. But don’t look in Bethel. Don’t go to Gilgal. Don’t cross the border and go down to Beersheba. The people of Gilgal will be taken away as prisoners, and Bethel will be destroyed.
6. Come to the Lord and live. If you don’t go to him, a fire will start at Joseph’s house, and no one in Bethel can stop it.
10. You hate those prophets, who go to public places and speak against evil, even though they teach good, simple truths.
11. You take unfair taxes from the poor. You take loads of wheat from them. You build fancy houses with cut stone, but you will not live in them. You plant beautiful vineyards, but you will not drink the wine from them.
12. This is because I know about your many sins. You have done some very bad things: You hurt people who do right, you accept money to do wrong, and you keep the poor from receiving justice in court.