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The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa—the vision he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.
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Judgment on Israel’s Neighbors
This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Damascus, even for four, I will not relent. Because she threshed Gilead with sledges having iron teeth,
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I will break down the gate of Damascus; I will destroy the king who is in the Valley of Aven and the one who holds the scepter in Beth Eden. The people of Aram will go into exile to Kir,” says the Lord.
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This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Gaza, even for four, I will not relent. Because she took captive whole communities and sold them to Edom,
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This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Tyre, even for four, I will not relent. Because she sold whole communities of captives to Edom, disregarding a treaty of brotherhood,
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This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Edom, even for four, I will not relent. Because he pursued his brother with a sword and slaughtered the women of the land, because his anger raged continually and his fury flamed unchecked,
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This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Ammon, even for four, I will not relent. Because he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to extend his borders,
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This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Moab, even for four, I will not relent. Because he burned to ashes the bones of Edom’s king,
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This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not relent. Because they have rejected the law of the Lord and have not kept his decrees, because they have been led astray by false gods, the gods their ancestors followed,
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Judgment on Israel
This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not relent. They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals.
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They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. In the house of their god they drink wine taken as fines.
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“I also raised up prophets from among your children and Nazirites from among your youths. Is this not true, people of Israel?” declares the Lord.
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“But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.
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“Now then, I will crush you as a cart crushes when loaded with grain.
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The swift will not escape, the strong will not muster their strength, and the warrior will not save his life.
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The archer will not stand his ground, the fleet-footed soldier will not get away, and the horseman will not save his life.
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Witnesses Summoned Against Israel
Hear this word, people of Israel, the word the Lord has spoken against you—against the whole family I brought up out of Egypt:
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“You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins.”
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Does a lion roar in the thicket when it has no prey? Does it growl in its den when it has caught nothing?
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Does a bird swoop down to a trap on the ground when no bait is there? Does a trap spring up from the ground if it has not caught anything?
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When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it?
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Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.
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The lion has roared— who will not fear? The Sovereign Lord has spoken— who can but prophesy?
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“They do not know how to do right,” declares the Lord, “who store up in their fortresses what they have plundered and looted.”
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Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “An enemy will overrun your land, pull down your strongholds and plunder your fortresses.”
