I raised up some of your sons as prophets, And some of your young men as Nazirites. Is it not so, O you children of Israel?” Says the Lord.

“But you gave the Nazirites wine to drink, And commanded the prophets saying, ‘Do not prophesy!’

Authority of the Prophet’s Message

Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying:

Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?

Then Amaziah said to Amos: “Go, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah. There eat bread, And there prophesy.

But never again prophesy at Bethel, For it is the king’s sanctuary, And it is the royal residence.”

Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: “I was no prophet, Nor was I a son of a prophet, But I was a sheepbreeder And a tender of sycamore fruit.

Then the Lord took me as I followed the flock, And the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’

Now therefore, hear the word of the Lord: You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel, And do not spout against the house of Isaac.’