Add parallel Print Page Options

Woe to those who are at ease in Zion,

    and to those who are secure on the mountain of Samaria,
    the notable men of the chief of the nations,
    to whom the house of Israel come!
Go to Calneh, and see;
    and from there go to Hamath the great;
    then go down to Gath of the Philistines.
are they better than these kingdoms?
    or is their border greater than your border?
Those who put far away the evil day,
    and cause the seat of violence to come near;
    Who lie on beds of ivory,
    and stretch themselves on their couches,
    and eat the lambs out of the flock,
    and the calves out of the middle of the stall;
    who strum on the strings of a harp;
    who invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;
    who drink wine in bowls,
    and anoint themselves with the best oils;
    but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
Therefore they will now go captive with the first who go captive;
    and the feasting and lounging will end.

Read full chapter

Mourning for the House of Israel

“Woe to those who are at ease in Zion,
    to those who rest on the mountain of Samaria—
the famous men of the nations
    to whom the house of Israel came!
Cross over to Calneh[a] and look around,
    then go on to that great city of[b] Hamath,
        and from there go down to Gath of the Philistines.
Are you better than these kingdoms?
    Or is their territory more extensive than yours?

“Disbelieving that a day of evil will come,[c]
    embracing opportunities to commit violence,[d]
lying on ivory beds,
    stretching out on your couches,
eating lambs from the flock,
    and fattened calves from the stall,
chanting to the sound of stringed instruments as if they were David,
    composing songs to themselves as if they were musicians,
drinking wine from bowls,
    anointing themselves with the choicest of oils,
        but not grieving on the occasion of Joseph’s ruin—
therefore you will be the first to go into exile,
    and the celebrations of those who are lounging will end.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Amos 6:2 I.e. a Mesopotamian city
  2. Amos 6:2 The Heb. lacks city of
  3. Amos 6:3 The Heb. lacks will come
  4. Amos 6:3 Lit. yet are pressing hard the seat of violence