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Amaziah Tells Amos to Stop Prophesying

10 Amaziah was priest of Bethel. He sent a message to Jeroboam, the king of Israel. He said, “Amos is making evil plans against you right here in Israel. The people in the land can’t stand to listen to what he’s saying. 11 Amos is telling them,

“ ‘Jeroboam will be killed by a sword.
    The people of Israel will be taken away as prisoners.
    They will be carried off from their own land.’ ”

12 Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out of Israel, you prophet! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your living there. Do your prophesying there. 13 Don’t prophesy here at Bethel anymore. This is where the king worships. The main temple in the kingdom is located here.”

14 Amos answered Amaziah, “I was not a prophet. I wasn’t even the son of a prophet. I was a shepherd. I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. 15 But the Lord took me away from taking care of the flock. He said to me, ‘Go. Prophesy to my people Israel.’ 16 Now then, listen to the Lord’s message. You say,

“ ‘Don’t prophesy against Israel.
    Stop preaching against the people of Isaac.’

17 “But the Lord says,

“ ‘Your wife will become a prostitute
    in the city of Bethel.
    Your sons and daughters will be killed by swords.
Your land will be measured and divided up.
    And you yourself will die in another country.
The people of Israel will surely be taken away as prisoners.
    They will be carried off from their own land.’ ”

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