阿摩司書 3
1 以色列子民! 你們應聽從上主關於你們，即 由埃及領出來的全體民族所說的話：「
Give ear to this word which the Lord has said against you, O children of Israel, against all the family which I took up out of the land of Egypt, saying,
2 由世界上一切種族中，我只選擇了你們，為此，我必懲罰你們的罪惡。
You only of all the families of the earth have I taken care of: for this reason I will send punishment on you for all your sins.
3 二人除非預約，豈能同行。
Is it possible for two to go walking together, if not by agreement?
4 獅子若無獵物，豈能在林中咆哮﹖幼獅除非捕到食物，豈能在洞中吼叫﹖
Will a lion give his loud cry in the woodland when no food is there? will the voice of the young lion be sounding from his hole if he has taken nothing?
5 雀鳥若無餌食，豈能落在地上﹖機楹若無所獲，豈能由地上翻起﹖
Is it possible for a bird to be taken in a net on the earth where no net has been put for him? will the net come up from the earth if it has taken nothing at all?
6 如在城中吹起號角，人民豈不恐怖﹖如城裏發生災禍，豈不是上主所為﹖
If the horn is sounded in the town will the people not be full of fear? will evil come on a town if the Lord has not done it?
7 的確，上主若不先將自己的計劃啟示給自己的先知，什麼也不作。
Certainly the Lord will do nothing without making clear his secret to his servants, the prophets.
8 獅子咆哮了，誰不害怕﹖吾主上主發了言，誰能不傳衪的話﹖」
The cry of the lion is sounding; who will not have fear? The Lord God has said the word; is it possible for the prophet to keep quiet?
9 他們要在亞述和埃及的宮殿高處宣布說：你們應聚集在撒馬黎雅山上，觀看那裏的混亂和其中的殘暴。
Give out the news in the great houses of Assyria and in the land of Egypt, and say, Come together on the mountains of Samaria, and see what great outcries are there, and what cruel acts are done in it.
10 他們不知行正直的事──上主的斷語──只知在宮殿內積累強暴和欺壓。
For they have no knowledge of how to do what is right, says the Lord, who are storing up violent acts and destruction in their great houses.
11 為此，吾主上主這樣說：「敵人要圍困此地，推翻你的堡壘，搶掠你的宮殿。
For this reason, says the Lord, an attacker will come, shutting in the land on every side; and your strength will come down and your great houses will be made waste.
12 上主這樣說：牧人怎樣從樣由獅子口中搶救出兩條羊腿，或一塊羊耳，以色列子民，即在 撒馬利亞斜倚在安樂椅角上，或大馬士革榻上的人，也要怎樣被救出。
These are the words of the Lord: As the keeper of sheep takes out of the mouth of the lion two legs or part of an ear; so will the children of Israel be made safe, who are resting in Samaria on seats of honour or on the silk cushions of a bed.
13 你們靜聽，並對雅各伯家作証──吾主上主萬軍的天主的斷語──
Give ear now, and give witness against the family of Jacob, says the Lord God, the God of armies;
14 在我懲罰以色列罪惡之日，我必毀壞貝特耳的祭壇，祭壇的角必被打落在地上。
For in the day when I give Israel punishment for his sins, I will send punishment on the altars of Beth-el, and the horns of the altar will be cut off and come down to the earth.
15 我要破壞過冬和過夏的別墅，象牙宮也必遭毀壞，高樓大廈也必蕩然無存」──上主的斷語。
And I will send destruction on the winter house with the summer house; the ivory houses will be falling down and the great houses will come to an end, says the Lord.
