Punishment of Israel’s Sins

“Proclaim in the palaces at [a]Ashdod,
And in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say:
‘Assemble on the mountains of Samaria;
See great tumults in her midst,
And the [b]oppressed within her.
10 For they (A)do not know to do right,’
Says the Lord,
‘Who store up violence and [c]robbery in their palaces.’ ”

11 Therefore thus says the Lord God:

“An adversary shall be all around the land;
He shall sap your strength from you,
And your palaces shall be plundered.”

12 Thus says the Lord:

“As a shepherd [d]takes from the mouth of a lion
Two legs or a piece of an ear,
So shall the children of Israel be taken out
Who dwell in Samaria—
In the corner of a bed and [e]on the edge of a couch!
13 Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,”
Says the Lord God, the God of hosts,
14 “That in the day I punish Israel for their transgressions,
I will also visit destruction on the altars of (B)Bethel;
And the horns of the altar shall be cut off
And fall to the ground.
15 I will [f]destroy (C)the winter house along with (D)the summer house;
The (E)houses of ivory shall perish,
And the great houses shall have an end,”
Says the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Amos 3:9 So with MT; LXX Assyria
  2. Amos 3:9 Or oppression
  3. Amos 3:10 Or devastation
  4. Amos 3:12 Or snatches
  5. Amos 3:12 Heb. uncertain, possibly on the cover
  6. Amos 3:15 Lit. strike

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,[a] “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[b] 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[c] my Lord Yahweh, the God of hosts. 14 “For on the day I punish Israel for its transgression,[d] 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[e] Yahweh.

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Footnotes

  1. Amos 3:10 Literally “the declaration of Yahweh”
  2. Amos 3:12 Literally “children”
  3. Amos 3:13 Literally “a declaration of”
  4. Amos 3:14 Literally “the transgression of Israel upon it”
  5. Amos 3:15 Literally “a declaration of”