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Israel’s Guilt and Punishment

Hear this word that Yahweh has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole clan that I brought up from the land of Egypt:[a] “You only have I chosen[b] of all the clans of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. Do two walk together unless they have met? Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey?[c] Does a fierce, young lion cry out from his den unless he has caught something? Does a bird fall into a trapping net on the earth when there is no snare for it? Does a trapping net spring up from the ground unless it has certainly caught something? Or is a horn blown in a city and people are not afraid? Or does a disaster occur in the city and Yahweh has not done it? Surely my Lord does not do anything unless he has revealed his secret to his servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who is not afraid? My Lord Yahweh has spoken, who will not prophesy? Proclaim to the citadel fortresses in Ashdod and the citadel fortresses in the land of Egypt and say: “Gather on the mountains of Samaria and see the great panic in her midst and the oppression in her midst!” 10 “They do not know how to do right,” declares Yahweh,[d] “those who store up violence and destruction in their citadel fortresses.” 11 Therefore, thus says my Lord Yahweh, “A foe shall surround the land and bring down your strongholds, and your citadel fortresses shall be plundered.” 12 Thus says Yahweh, “Just as the shepherd rescues two legs or a piece of an ear from the mouth of the lion, so shall the people[e] of Israel who dwell in Samaria, with the corner of a couch and the damask of a bed.” 13 “Listen and testify against the house of Jacob,” declares[f] my Lord Yahweh, the God of hosts. 14 “For on the day I punish Israel for its transgression,[g] I will also punish the altars of Bethel and the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground. 15 I will ruin the winter house as well as the summer house, and the houses of ivory will perish and the great houses shall come to an end,” declares[h] Yahweh.

Footnotes

  1. Amos 3:1 Hebrew “Egypt, saying”
  2. Amos 3:2 Literally “known”
  3. Amos 3:4 Literally “and there is no prey to him”
  4. Amos 3:10 Literally “the declaration of Yahweh”
  5. Amos 3:12 Literally “children”
  6. Amos 3:13 Literally “a declaration of”
  7. Amos 3:14 Literally “the transgression of Israel upon it”
  8. Amos 3:15 Literally “a declaration of”

Hear this word that Jehovah hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt, saying, You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will visit upon you all your iniquities. Shall two walk together, except they have [a]agreed? Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing? Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is set for him? shall a snare spring up from the ground, and have taken nothing at all? Shall the trumpet be blown in a city, and the people not be afraid? shall evil befall a city, and Jehovah hath not done it? Surely the Lord Jehovah will do nothing, except he reveal his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared; who will not fear? The Lord Jehovah hath spoken; who can but prophesy?

Publish ye [b]in the palaces at Ashdod, and [c]in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold what great tumults are therein, and what oppressions in the midst thereof. 10 For they know not to do right, saith Jehovah, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces. 11 Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: An adversary there shall be, even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be plundered. 12 Thus saith Jehovah: As the shepherd rescueth out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be rescued that sit in Samaria in the corner of a couch, and [d]on the silken cushions of a bed.

13 Hear ye, and testify against the house of Jacob, saith the Lord Jehovah, the God of hosts. 14 For in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will also visit the altars of Beth-el; and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground. 15 And I will smite the winter-house with the summer-house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and [e]the great houses shall have an end, saith Jehovah.

Footnotes

  1. Amos 3:3 Or, made an appointment
  2. Amos 3:9 Or, upon
  3. Amos 3:9 Or, upon
  4. Amos 3:12 According to some manuscripts, in Damascus on a bed.
  5. Amos 3:15 Or, many houses