Judgment on Neighbor Nations

The words of Amos, who was among the (A)sheepherders from (B)Tekoa, which he saw in visions concerning Israel in the days of (C)Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of (D)Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the (E)earthquake.

And he said,
“The (F)Lord roars from Zion,
And from Jerusalem He utters His voice;
And the shepherds’ (G)pasture grounds mourn,
And the [a](H)summit of Carmel dries up.”

This is what the Lord says:
“For (I)three offenses of (J)Damascus, and for four,
I will not [b]revoke its punishment,
Because they threshed Gilead with iron sledges.
So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael,
And it will consume the citadels of (K)Ben-hadad.
I will also (L)break the gate bar of Damascus,
And eliminate every inhabitant from the [c]Valley of Aven,
As well as him who holds the scepter, from Beth-eden;
So the people of Aram will be exiled to (M)Kir,”
Says the Lord.

This is what the Lord says:
“For three offenses of (N)Gaza, and for four,
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because they led into exile an entire population
To (O)turn them over to Edom.
So I will send fire on the wall of Gaza
And it will consume her citadels.
I will also eliminate every inhabitant from (P)Ashdod,
As well as him who holds the scepter, from (Q)Ashkelon;
And I will direct My [d]power against Ekron,
And the remnant of the (R)Philistines will perish,”
Says the Lord [e]God.

This is what the Lord says:
“For three offenses of (S)Tyre, and for four,
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because they turned an entire population over to Edom
And did not remember the covenant of [f](T)brotherhood.
10 So I will (U)send fire on the wall of Tyre,
And it will consume her citadels.”

11 This is what the Lord says:
“For three offenses of (V)Edom, and for four,
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because he (W)pursued his brother with the sword
And stifled his compassion;
His anger also (X)tore continually,
And he maintained his fury forever.
12 So I will send fire upon (Y)Teman
And it will consume the citadels of Bozrah.”

13 This is what the Lord says:
“For three offenses of the sons of (Z)Ammon, and for four,
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because they (AA)ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead
In order to (AB)enlarge their borders.
14 So I will kindle a fire on the wall of (AC)Rabbah,
And it will consume her citadels
Amid [g](AD)war cries on the day of battle,
And amid a (AE)storm on the day of tempest.
15 Their (AF)king will go into exile,
He and his princes together,” says the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Amos 1:2 Lit head
  2. Amos 1:3 Lit cause it to turn back, and so throughout the ch
  3. Amos 1:5 Possibly Baalbek
  4. Amos 1:8 Lit hand
  5. Amos 1:8 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  6. Amos 1:9 Lit brothers
  7. Amos 1:14 Or shouts

The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa(A)—the vision he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake,(B) when Uzziah(C) was king of Judah and Jeroboam(D) son of Jehoash[a] was king of Israel.(E)

He said:

“The Lord roars(F) from Zion
    and thunders(G) from Jerusalem;(H)
the pastures of the shepherds dry up,
    and the top of Carmel(I) withers.”(J)

Judgment on Israel’s Neighbors

This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Damascus,(K)
    even for four, I will not relent.(L)
Because she threshed Gilead
    with sledges having iron teeth,
I will send fire(M) on the house of Hazael(N)
    that will consume the fortresses(O) of Ben-Hadad.(P)
I will break down the gate(Q) of Damascus;
    I will destroy the king who is in[b] the Valley of Aven[c]
and the one who holds the scepter in Beth Eden.(R)
    The people of Aram will go into exile to Kir,(S)
says the Lord.(T)

This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Gaza,(U)
    even for four, I will not relent.(V)
Because she took captive whole communities
    and sold them to Edom,(W)
I will send fire on the walls of Gaza
    that will consume her fortresses.
I will destroy the king[d] of Ashdod(X)
    and the one who holds the scepter in Ashkelon.
I will turn my hand(Y) against Ekron,
    till the last of the Philistines(Z) are dead,”(AA)
says the Sovereign Lord.(AB)

This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Tyre,(AC)
    even for four, I will not relent.(AD)
Because she sold whole communities of captives to Edom,
    disregarding a treaty of brotherhood,(AE)
10 I will send fire on the walls of Tyre
    that will consume her fortresses.(AF)

11 This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Edom,(AG)
    even for four, I will not relent.
Because he pursued his brother with a sword(AH)
    and slaughtered the women of the land,
because his anger raged continually
    and his fury flamed unchecked,(AI)
12 I will send fire on Teman(AJ)
    that will consume the fortresses of Bozrah.(AK)

13 This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Ammon,(AL)
    even for four, I will not relent.
Because he ripped open the pregnant women(AM) of Gilead
    in order to extend his borders,
14 I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah(AN)
    that will consume(AO) her fortresses
amid war cries(AP) on the day of battle,
    amid violent winds(AQ) on a stormy day.
15 Her king[e] will go into exile,
    he and his officials together,(AR)
says the Lord.(AS)

Footnotes

  1. Amos 1:1 Hebrew Joash, a variant of Jehoash
  2. Amos 1:5 Or the inhabitants of
  3. Amos 1:5 Aven means wickedness.
  4. Amos 1:8 Or inhabitants
  5. Amos 1:15 Or / Molek

17 “Do not presume that I came to abolish the (A)Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, (B)until heaven and earth pass away, not [a]the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished! 19 Therefore, whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches [b]others to do the same, shall be called least (C)in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever [c]keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 “For I say to you that unless your (D)righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Personal Relationships

21 (E)You have heard that [d]the ancients were told, ‘(F)You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to (G)the court.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to (H)the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘[e]You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to [f](I)the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the [g](J)fiery hell. 23 Therefore, if you are (K)presenting your [h]offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your [i]offering there before the altar and go; first be (L)reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your [j]offering. 25 (M)[k]Come to good terms with your accuser quickly, while you are with him on the way to court, so that your accuser will not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will not be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I say to you, (N)you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last [l]quadrans.

27 (O)You have heard that it was said, ‘(P)You shall not commit adultery’; 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman (Q)with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 Now (R)if your right eye is causing you to sin, tear it out and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, [m]than for your whole body to be thrown into [n](S)hell. 30 And (T)if your right hand is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; for it is better for you [o]to lose one of the parts of your body, [p]than for your whole body to go into [q](U)hell.

31 “Now it was said, ‘(V)Whoever sends his wife away is to give her a certificate of divorce’; 32 (W)but I say to you that everyone who [r]divorces his wife, except for the reason of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a [s]divorced woman commits adultery.

33 “Again, (X)you have heard that [t]the ancients were told, ‘[u](Y)You shall not [v]make false vows, but shall fulfill your [w]vows to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, (Z)take no oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is (AA)the throne of God, 35 nor by the earth, for it is the (AB)footstool of His feet, nor [x]by Jerusalem, for it is (AC)the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you take an oath by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37 But make sure your statement is, ‘[y]Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is [z]of (AD)evil origin.

38 (AE)You have heard that it was said, ‘(AF)Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, do not show opposition against an evil person; but (AG)whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other toward him also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your [aa]tunic, let him have your [ab]cloak also. 41 Whoever [ac]forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 (AH)Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

43 (AI)You have heard that it was said, ‘(AJ)You shall love your neighbor (AK)and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, (AL)love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may prove yourselves to be (AM)sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For (AN)if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Even the Gentiles, do they not do the same? 48 Therefore (AO)you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:18 Lit one iota (Heb yodh) or one projection (serif)
  2. Matthew 5:19 Lit people
  3. Matthew 5:19 Lit does
  4. Matthew 5:21 Lit it was said to the ancients
  5. Matthew 5:22 Or You empty-head; Gr Raka (Raca) from Aramaic reqa
  6. Matthew 5:22 Lit the Sanhedrin; i.e., Jewish High Court
  7. Matthew 5:22 Lit Gehenna of fire
  8. Matthew 5:23 Or gift
  9. Matthew 5:24 Or gift
  10. Matthew 5:24 Or gift
  11. Matthew 5:25 I.e., settle the case
  12. Matthew 5:26 A small Roman copper coin, worth about 1/64 of a laborer’s daily wage
  13. Matthew 5:29 Lit and that your whole body not be
  14. Matthew 5:29 Gr Gehenna
  15. Matthew 5:30 Lit that one...be lost
  16. Matthew 5:30 Lit and not your whole body
  17. Matthew 5:30 Gr Gehenna
  18. Matthew 5:32 Lit sends away, the Heb term for divorce
  19. Matthew 5:32 Lit woman sent away
  20. Matthew 5:33 Lit it was said to the ancients
  21. Matthew 5:33 you and your are singular here
  22. Matthew 5:33 Or break your vows
  23. Matthew 5:33 Lit oaths
  24. Matthew 5:35 Or toward
  25. Matthew 5:37 I.e., a clear “yes” or “no”
  26. Matthew 5:37 Or from the evil one
  27. Matthew 5:40 A long shirt worn next to the skin
  28. Matthew 5:40 Or outer garment
  29. Matthew 5:41 Lit will force

The Fulfillment of the Law

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.(A) 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.(B) 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands(C) and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.(D)

Murder(E)

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,[a](F) and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry(G) with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to judgment.(H) Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’[d] is answerable to the court.(I) And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.(J)

23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Adultery

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[e](K) 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.(L) 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble,(M) gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble,(N) cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Divorce

31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’[f](O) 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.(P)

Oaths

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath,(Q) but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’(R) 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all:(S) either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;(T) 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.(U) 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’;(V) anything beyond this comes from the evil one.[g](W)

Eye for Eye

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[h](X) 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.(Y) 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.(Z)

Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i](AA) and hate your enemy.’(AB) 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,(AC) 45 that you may be children(AD) of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.(AE) 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?(AF) Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.(AG)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:21 Exodus 20:13
  2. Matthew 5:22 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a fellow disciple, whether man or woman; also in verse 23.
  3. Matthew 5:22 Some manuscripts brother or sister without cause
  4. Matthew 5:22 An Aramaic term of contempt
  5. Matthew 5:27 Exodus 20:14
  6. Matthew 5:31 Deut. 24:1
  7. Matthew 5:37 Or from evil
  8. Matthew 5:38 Exodus 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21
  9. Matthew 5:43 Lev. 19:18

Judgment on Moab

This is what the Lord says:

“For three offenses of (A)Moab, and for four,
I will not [a]revoke its punishment,
Because he (B)burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime.
So I will send fire upon Moab
And it will consume the citadels of (C)Kerioth;
And Moab will die amid the (D)panic of battle,
Amid war cries and the sound of a trumpet.
I will also eliminate the [b](E)judge from her midst
And slay all her (F)leaders with him,” says the Lord.

Judgment on Judah

This is what the Lord says:
“For three offenses of (G)Judah, and for four,
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because they (H)rejected the Law of the Lord
And have not kept His statutes;
Their [c](I)lies also have led them astray,
Those which their (J)fathers followed.
So I will (K)send fire upon Judah,
And it will consume the citadels of Jerusalem.”

Judgment on Israel

This is what the Lord says:
“For three offenses of (L)Israel, and for four,
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because they (M)sell the righteous for [d]money,
And the needy for a pair of sandals.
These who [e]trample the head of the (N)helpless to the dust of the earth
Also (O)divert the way of the humble;
And a (P)man and his father [f]resort to the same [g]girl
So as to profane My holy name.
And on garments (Q)seized as pledges they stretch out beside (R)every altar,
And in the house of their God they (S)drink the wine of those who have been fined.

“Yet it was I who destroyed the (T)Amorite before them,
[h]Though his (U)height was like the height of cedars
And he was as strong as the oaks;
I also destroyed his (V)fruit above and his roots below.
10 And it was I who (W)brought you up from the land of Egypt,
And led you in the wilderness for (X)forty years
So that you might take possession of the land of the (Y)Amorite.
11 Then I (Z)raised up some of your sons to be prophets,
And some of your young men to be (AA)Nazirites.
Is this not so, you sons of Israel?” declares the Lord.
12 “But you made the Nazirites drink wine,
And you commanded the prophets, saying, ‘You (AB)shall not prophesy!’
13 Behold, I am (AC)making a rut in the ground beneath you,
Just as a wagon makes a rut when filled with sheaves.
14 (AD)Refuge will be lost from the swift,
And the strong will not strengthen his power,
Nor the (AE)warrior save his [i]life.
15 The one who (AF)grasps the bow will not stand his ground,
The swift of foot will not escape,
Nor will the one who rides the (AG)horse save his [j]life.
16 Even the [k]bravest among the warriors will (AH)flee naked on that day,” declares the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Amos 2:1 Lit cause it to turn back, and so throughout the ch
  2. Amos 2:3 Or executive officer
  3. Amos 2:4 Or false gods
  4. Amos 2:6 Lit silver
  5. Amos 2:7 Or pant for the dust...on the head of the helpless
  6. Amos 2:7 Lit go
  7. Amos 2:7 Possibly a prostitute, or a temple prostitute
  8. Amos 2:9 Lit Whose height
  9. Amos 2:14 Lit soul
  10. Amos 2:15 Lit soul
  11. Amos 2:16 Lit strong of his heart

This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Moab,(A)
    even for four, I will not relent.
Because he burned to ashes(B)
    the bones of Edom’s king,
I will send fire on Moab
    that will consume the fortresses of Kerioth.[a](C)
Moab will go down in great tumult
    amid war cries(D) and the blast of the trumpet.(E)
I will destroy her ruler(F)
    and kill all her officials with him,”(G)
says the Lord.(H)

This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Judah,(I)
    even for four, I will not relent.
Because they have rejected the law(J) of the Lord
    and have not kept his decrees,(K)
because they have been led astray(L) by false gods,[b](M)
    the gods[c] their ancestors followed,(N)
I will send fire(O) on Judah
    that will consume the fortresses(P) of Jerusalem.(Q)

Judgment on Israel

This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Israel,
    even for four, I will not relent.(R)
They sell the innocent for silver,
    and the needy for a pair of sandals.(S)
They trample on the heads of the poor
    as on the dust of the ground
    and deny justice to the oppressed.
Father and son use the same girl
    and so profane my holy name.(T)
They lie down beside every altar
    on garments taken in pledge.(U)
In the house of their god
    they drink wine(V) taken as fines.(W)

“Yet I destroyed the Amorites(X) before them,
    though they were tall(Y) as the cedars
    and strong as the oaks.(Z)
I destroyed their fruit above
    and their roots(AA) below.
10 I brought you up out of Egypt(AB)
    and led(AC) you forty years in the wilderness(AD)
    to give you the land of the Amorites.(AE)

11 “I also raised up prophets(AF) from among your children
    and Nazirites(AG) from among your youths.
Is this not true, people of Israel?”
declares the Lord.
12 “But you made the Nazirites drink wine
    and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.(AH)

13 “Now then, I will crush you
    as a cart crushes when loaded with grain.(AI)
14 The swift will not escape,(AJ)
    the strong(AK) will not muster their strength,
    and the warrior will not save his life.(AL)
15 The archer(AM) will not stand his ground,
    the fleet-footed soldier will not get away,
    and the horseman(AN) will not save his life.(AO)
16 Even the bravest warriors(AP)
    will flee naked on that day,”
declares the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Amos 2:2 Or of her cities
  2. Amos 2:4 Or by lies
  3. Amos 2:4 Or lies

Sanctification and Love

(A)Finally then, (B)brothers and sisters, we request and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us as to how you ought to [a](C)walk and (D)please God (just as you actually do [b]walk), that you (E)excel even more. For you know what instructions we gave you [c]by the authority of the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you (F)abstain from sexual immorality; that (G)each of you know how to [d]possess his own [e](H)vessel in sanctification and (I)honor, not in [f](J)lustful passion, like the Gentiles who (K)do not know God; and that no one violate the rights and (L)take advantage of his brother or sister (M)in the matter, because (N)the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also (O)told you previously and solemnly warned you. For (P)God has not called us for [g](Q)impurity, but in sanctification. Therefore, the one who rejects this is not rejecting man, but the God who (R)gives His Holy Spirit to you.

Now as to the (S)love of the brothers and sisters, you (T)have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are (U)taught by God to love one another; 10 for indeed (V)you practice it toward all the brothers and sisters who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to (W)excel even more, 11 and to make it your ambition (X)to lead a quiet life and (Y)attend to your own business and (Z)work with your hands, just as we instructed you, 12 so that you will [h](AA)behave properly toward (AB)outsiders and [i](AC)not be in any need.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Or conduct yourselves
  2. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Or conduct yourselves
  3. 1 Thessalonians 4:2 Lit through the Lord
  4. 1 Thessalonians 4:4 Or acquire
  5. 1 Thessalonians 4:4 I.e., body; or wife
  6. 1 Thessalonians 4:5 Lit passion of lust
  7. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 I.e., moral corruption
  8. 1 Thessalonians 4:12 Lit walk
  9. 1 Thessalonians 4:12 Lit have need of nothing

Living to Please God

As for other matters, brothers and sisters,(A) we instructed you how to live(B) in order to please God,(C) as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

It is God’s will(D) that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;(E) that each of you should learn to control your own body[a](F) in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust(G) like the pagans,(H) who do not know God;(I) and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.[b](J) The Lord will punish(K) all those who commit such sins,(L) as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.(M) Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.(N)

Now about your love for one another(O) we do not need to write to you,(P) for you yourselves have been taught by God(Q) to love each other.(R) 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia.(S) Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,(T) 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands,(U) just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders(V) and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 4:4 Or learn to live with your own wife; or learn to acquire a wife
  2. 1 Thessalonians 4:6 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family.