Amos 3
Christian Standard Bible
God’s Reasons for Punishing Israel
3 Listen to this message that the Lord has spoken against you, Israelites, against the entire clan that I brought from the land of Egypt:(A)
2 I have known only you(B)
out of all the clans of the earth;
therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities.(C)
3 Can two walk together(D)
without agreeing to meet?
4 Does a lion roar(E) in the forest
when it has no prey?
Does a young lion growl from its lair
unless it has captured something?
5 Does a bird land in a trap on the ground
if there is no bait for it?
Does a trap spring from the ground
when it has caught nothing?
6 If a ram’s horn(F) is blown in a city,
aren’t people afraid?(G)
If a disaster(H) occurs in a city,
hasn’t the Lord done it?(I)
7 Indeed, the Lord God does nothing
without revealing his counsel
to his servants the prophets.(J)
8 A lion has roared;(K)
who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken;(L)
who will not prophesy?(M)
9 Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod(N)
and on the citadels in the land of Egypt:
Assemble on the mountains of Samaria,(O)
and see the great turmoil in the city
and the acts of oppression within it.(P)
10 The people are incapable of doing right(Q)—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
those who store up violence and destruction(R)
in their citadels.
11 Therefore, the Lord God says:
12 The Lord says:
As the shepherd snatches two legs
or a piece of an ear
from the lion’s mouth,(V)
so the Israelites who live in Samaria
will be rescued
with only the corner of a bed(W)
or the[a] cushion[b] of a couch.[c](X)
13 Listen and testify(Y) against the house of Jacob—
this is the declaration of the Lord God,
the God of Armies.
14 I will punish the altars of Bethel(Z)
on the day I punish Israel for its crimes;
the horns of the altar(AA) will be cut off
and fall to the ground.(AB)
15 I will demolish the winter house(AC)
and the summer house;(AD)
the houses inlaid with ivory(AE) will be destroyed,
and the great houses(AF) will come to an end.
This is the Lord’s declaration.
Amos 3
Legacy Standard Bible
Yahweh Speaks Against Israel
3 Hear this word which Yahweh has spoken against you, sons of Israel, against the entire [a](A)family which [b]He brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
2 “(B)You only have I known among all the families of the earth;
Therefore I will [c](C)punish you for all your iniquities.”
3 Do two men walk together unless they have made an [d]appointment?
4 Does a (D)lion roar in the forest when it has no prey?
Does a young lion give forth its voice from its den unless it has captured something?
5 Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no [e]bait in it?
Does a trap spring up from the earth when it captures nothing at all?
6 If a (E)trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble?
If a (F)calamity happens in a city has not Yahweh done it?
7 [f]Surely Lord Yahweh does nothing
Unless He (G)reveals His secret counsel
To His slaves the prophets.
8 A (H)lion has roared! Who will not fear?
(I)Lord Yahweh has spoken! (J)Who can but prophesy?
9 Make it heard on the citadels in (K)Ashdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt and say, “Gather yourselves on the (L)mountains of Samaria and see the great confusions within her and the (M)oppressions in her midst. 10 But they (N)do not know how to do what is right,” declares Yahweh, “these who (O)hoard up [g]violence and devastation in their citadels.”
11 Therefore, thus says Lord Yahweh,
“An (P)adversary, even one surrounding the land,
Will pull down your [h]strength from you,
And your (Q)citadels will be plundered.”
12 Thus says Yahweh,
“Just as the shepherd (R)delivers from the lion’s mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear,
So will the sons of Israel inhabiting Samaria be delivered—
With the (S)corner of a bed and the [i](T)cover of a couch!
13 Hear and (U)testify against the house of Jacob,”
Declares Lord Yahweh, the God of hosts.
14 “For on the day that I punish Israel’s transgressions,
I will also punish the altars of (V)Bethel;
The horns of the altar will be cut in pieces,
And they will fall to the ground.
15 I will also strike the [j](W)winter house together with the (X)summer house;
The houses of [k](Y)ivory will also perish,
And the (Z)great houses will come to an end,”
Declares Yahweh.
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