These are the words of Amos, one of the sheep farmers from Tekoa. He saw a vision about Israel during the reigns of Judah’s King Uzziah and Israel’s King Jeroboam, son of Joash. This happened two years before the earthquake.

Israel Will Be Judged for Its Crimes

This is what Yahweh says: Because Israel has committed three crimes, and now a fourth crime, I will not change my plans. The people of Israel sell the righteous for money and the needy for a pair of sandals.

I also sent you prophets from among your children and Nazirites from among your youths. Isn’t that so, people of Israel? Yahweh has declared this.

The Lord Will Punish Israel for Its Immoral Behavior

Listen to this message which I, Yahweh, have spoken against you Israelites, against your whole family that I brought out of Egypt.

This is what Yahweh says: As a shepherd rescues two legs or a piece of an ear out of a lion’s mouth, so the Israelites living in Samaria will be rescued, having only a corner of a bed or a piece of a couch.

On the day I punish Israel for its disobedience, I will also destroy the altars at Bethel. The horns of the altar will be cut off and will fall to the ground.

Burn bread as a thank offering. Brag and boast about your freewill offerings. This is what you people of Israel love to do. Adonay Yahweh declares this.

This is what I will do to you, Israel. Prepare to meet your Elohim. This is what I will do to you, Israel!

A Funeral Song about Israel

Listen to this message, this funeral song that I sing about you, nation of Israel:

The people of Israel have fallen, never to rise again. They lie abandoned in their own land. There is no one to help them.

This is what Adonay Yahweh says: The city that sends 1,000 troops off to war will have only 100 left. The one that sends 100 troops off to war will have only 10 left for the nation of Israel.

A Threefold Call to Turn Away from Sin

This is what Yahweh says to the nation of Israel: Search for me and live!

You, Israel, turn justice into poison and throw righteousness on the ground.

Israel, you hate anyone who speaks out against injustice. You are disgusted by anyone who speaks the truth.

The Lord Rejects Israel’s Worship

I hate your festivals; I despise them. I’m not pleased with your religious assemblies.

Did you bring me sacrifices and grain offerings in the desert for 40 years, nation of Israel?

The Fall of Samaria

How horrible it will be for those who are at ease in Zion, for those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, and for the heads of the leading nations, to whom the nation of Israel comes.

I am going to lead a nation to attack you, nation of Israel, declares the Lord God of the Armies of the Nations. They will oppress you from the border of Hamath to the valley of Arabah.

The Lord Refuses to Overlook Israel’s Sin

This is what he showed me: Adonay was standing by a wall built with the use of a plumb line, and he had a plumb line in his hand.

Yahweh asked me, “What do you see, Amos?” I answered, “A plumb line.” Then Adonay said, “I’m going to hold a plumb line in the middle of my people Israel. I will no longer overlook what they have done.

The worship sites of Isaac will be destroyed, and the holy places of Israel will be in ruins. I will attack Jeroboam’s heirs with my sword.”

Amaziah Opposes Amos

Then Amaziah, the priest at Bethel, sent a message to King Jeroboam of Israel. It read, “Amos is plotting against you among the people of Israel. The country isn’t able to endure everything he is saying.

Amos says that Jeroboam will be killed with a sword and that Israel cannot avoid being taken from its land into exile.”

But Yahweh took me away from herding the flock and said to me, ‘Prophesy to my people Israel.’

“Now listen to the word of Yahweh: You said, ‘Stop prophesying against Israel, and stop preaching against the descendants of Isaac.’