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The Prophet Reveals Destruction

Hear this word that Adonai has spoken against you, Bnei Yisrael, against the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying:

“Only you have I known from among
    all the families of the earth.
Therefore, I will punish you
    for all your iniquities.

Can two walk together
unless they meet by appointment?
Does a lion roar in the forest
    when he has no prey?
Does a young lion growl from his den
    unless he has taken prey?
Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground
    if it has no bait?
Will a snare spring up from the ground
    without taking anything?
If a shofar alarm sounds in a city,
    will people not tremble?
If there is calamity in a city,
    has not Adonai caused it?
For the Lord Adonai, will do nothing,
unless He has revealed His counsel
    to His servants the prophets.[a]
A lion has roared, who will not fear?
My Lord Adonai has spoken,
    who shall not prophesy?
Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod
and the citadels in the land of Egypt:
“Assemble on Samaria’s mountains:
Behold the great tumult within it,
    even the oppression within it.”
10 They do not know how to be honest,
—declares Adonai
those who are saving up violence and destruction in their citadels.
11 Therefore thus says my Lord Adonai:
“An adversary will surround the land!
He will bring down your strength.
Your citadels will be plundered
12 Thus says Adonai:
“Just as the shepherd snatches out of the mouth of the lion
    two legs, or a piece of an ear,
so will Bnei-Yisrael dwelling in Samaria
    escape with the corner of a bed
        or a head of a couch.
13 Hear, and testify against the house of Jacob.”
It is the declaration of my Lord
    Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot.
14 “For in a day I shall punish Israel for the transgressions of Israel,
and attend to the altars of Bethel—
the horns of the altar will be cut off
    and fall to the ground.
15 I will also strike the winter house
    together with the summer house.
The houses of ivory will perish,
and great houses will be demolished.”
It is the declaration of Adonai.

Footnotes

  1. Amos 3:7 cf. John 15:15.

Witnesses Summoned Against Israel

Hear this word, people of Israel, the word the Lord has spoken against you(A)—against the whole family I brought up out of Egypt:(B)

“You only have I chosen(C)
    of all the families of the earth;
therefore I will punish(D) you
    for all your sins.(E)

Do two walk together
    unless they have agreed to do so?
Does a lion roar(F) in the thicket
    when it has no prey?(G)
Does it growl in its den
    when it has caught nothing?
Does a bird swoop down to a trap on the ground
    when no bait(H) is there?
Does a trap spring up from the ground
    if it has not caught anything?
When a trumpet(I) sounds in a city,
    do not the people tremble?
When disaster(J) comes to a city,
    has not the Lord caused it?(K)

Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing
    without revealing his plan(L)
    to his servants the prophets.(M)

The lion(N) has roared(O)
    who will not fear?
The Sovereign Lord has spoken—
    who can but prophesy?(P)

Proclaim to the fortresses of Ashdod(Q)
    and to the fortresses of Egypt:
“Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria;(R)
    see the great unrest within her
    and the oppression among her people.”

10 “They do not know how to do right,(S)” declares the Lord,
    “who store up in their fortresses(T)
    what they have plundered(U) and looted.”

11 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“An enemy will overrun your land,
    pull down your strongholds
    and plunder your fortresses.(V)

12 This is what the Lord says:

“As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s(W) mouth
    only two leg bones or a piece of an ear,
so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued,
    with only the head of a bed
    and a piece of fabric[a] from a couch.[b](X)

13 “Hear this and testify(Y) against the descendants of Jacob,” declares the Lord, the Lord God Almighty.

14 “On the day I punish(Z) Israel for her sins,
    I will destroy the altars of Bethel;(AA)
the horns(AB) of the altar will be cut off
    and fall to the ground.
15 I will tear down the winter house(AC)
    along with the summer house;(AD)
the houses adorned with ivory(AE) will be destroyed
    and the mansions(AF) will be demolished,(AG)
declares the Lord.(AH)

Footnotes

  1. Amos 3:12 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  2. Amos 3:12 Or Israelites be rescued, / those who sit in Samaria / on the edge of their beds / and in Damascus on their couches.