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：「
Hear this word which the Lord hath spoken concerning you, O children of Israel, concerning the whole family which I have brought up from 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。
Only you have I loved out of all the families of the earth: therefore will I visit upon you all your iniquities.
3 二人除非預約，豈能同行。
Will two walk together, except they had agreed [to do so]?
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 roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion send forth his voice out of his den, unless he have caught something?
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﹖
Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, when there is no gin for him? is ever a snare taken up from the ground, when it hath caught 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﹖
Shall a cornet be blown in a city, and the people not become afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord have 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。
For the Lord Eternal will do nothing, unless he have revealed his secret unto 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 lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord Eternal hath spoken, who will not prophesy?
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。
Publish at the palaces in Ashdod, and at the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great confusions in her midst, and the oppressions [that are] within her.
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 know not how to act rightly, saith the Lord, who treasure up violence and robbery in their palaces.
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。
Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, The adversary [is there] and surroundeth the land: and he shall bring down from thee thy strength, and thy palaces shall be plundered.
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。
Thus hath said the Lord, As the shepherd snatcheth out of the mouth of the lion [at most] two leg-bones, or a tip of the ear: so shall be delivered the children of Israel that sit in Samaria on the corner of a bed, and on Damascus couches.
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──
Hear ye, and give warning in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord Eternal, the God of hosts.
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 on the day when I visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, will I also inflict punishment on the altars of Beth-el: and then shall be hewn off the horns of the altar, and they shall fall to the ground.
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 smite the winter-house together with the summer-house: and the houses of ivory shall disappear, and the great houses shall be no more, saith the Lord.
