Proclaim to the strongholds in (A)Ashdod
    and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt,
and say, “Assemble yourselves on (B)the mountains of Samaria,
    and see the great tumults within her,
    and (C)the oppressed in her midst.”
10 “They do not know how to do right,” declares the Lord,
    (D)“those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.”

11 Therefore thus says the Lord God:

(E)“An adversary shall surround the land
    and bring down[a] your defenses from you,
    and (F)your strongholds shall be plundered.”

12 Thus says the Lord: (G)“As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, (H)so shall the people of Israel (I)who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part[b] of a bed.

13 “Hear, (J)and testify against the house of Jacob,”
    declares the Lord God, (K)the God of hosts,
14 “that on the day I punish Israel for his transgressions,
    (L)I will punish the altars of Bethel,
and (M)the horns of the altar shall be cut off
    and fall to the ground.
15 (N)I will strike (O)the winter house along with (P)the summer house,
    and (Q)the houses of ivory shall perish,
and the great houses[c] shall come to an end,”
declares the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Amos 3:11 Hebrew An adversary, one who surrounds the land—he shall bring down
  2. Amos 3:12 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
  3. Amos 3:15 Or and many houses

Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod(A)
and on the citadels in the land of Egypt:
Assemble on the mountains of Samaria,(B)
and see the great turmoil in the city
and the acts of oppression within it.(C)
10 The people are incapable of doing right(D)
this is the Lord’s declaration—
those who store up violence and destruction(E)
in their citadels.

11 Therefore, the Lord God says:

An enemy(F) will surround the land;
he will destroy(G) your strongholds
and plunder your citadels.(H)

12 The Lord says:

As the shepherd snatches two legs
or a piece of an ear
from the lion’s mouth,(I)
so the Israelites who live in Samaria
will be rescued
with only the corner of a bed(J)
or the[a] cushion[b] of a couch.[c](K)

13 Listen and testify(L) 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(M)
on the day I punish Israel for its crimes;
the horns of the altar(N) will be cut off
and fall to the ground.(O)
15 I will demolish the winter house(P)
and the summer house;(Q)
the houses inlaid with ivory(R) will be destroyed,
and the great houses(S) will come to an end.

This is the Lord’s declaration.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:12 Or Israelites will be rescued, those who sit in Samaria on a corner of a bed or a
  2. 3:12 Hb obscure
  3. 3:12 LXX, Aq, Sym, Theod, Syr, Tg, Vg read or in Damascus