Amos 3
1 Hear this word that Jehovah has spoken against you, O sons of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt, saying,
People of Israel, listen to this message that the Lord has spoken against you—all of you, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt.
2 You only I have known of all the families of the earth. Therefore I will visit upon you all your iniquities.
I chose a special relationship with you alone out of all the families of the earth, and so I will punish you for your wrongdoing.
3 Shall two walk together unless they have agreed?
Can two people walk together unless they have arranged to meet?
4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he has taken nothing?
Does a lion roar in the forest before finding its prey? Does a young lion growl from its den if it has caught nothing?
5 Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no net is set for him? Shall a snare spring up from the ground, and have taken nothing at all?
Does a bird fall into a trap and get caught unless the spring is set? Does a trap spring shut if there's nothing there to catch?
6 Shall the trumpet be blown in a city, and the people not be afraid? Shall evil befall a city, and Jehovah has not done it?
When the trumpet sounds in the city, shouldn't the people be alarmed? When a disaster comes to a city, isn't it the Lord who does it?
7 Surely the lord Jehovah will do nothing unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets.
For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his intentions to his servants the prophets.
8 The lion has roared, who will not fear? The lord Jehovah has spoken, who can but prophesy?
The lion has roared—so who isn't scared? The Lord God has spoken—so who can refuse to speak for him?
9 Publish ye in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold what great tumults are in it, and what oppressions are in the midst of it.
Announce this to the fortresses of Ashdod and to the fortresses in the land of Egypt: Assemble yourselves on Samaria's mountains and see all the turmoil and oppression happening in the country.
10 For they do not know to do right, says Jehovah, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.
They don't know how to do what is right, declares the Lord. They have stored up in their fortresses what they've taken by violence and robbery.
11 Therefore thus says the lord Jehovah: An adversary shall be, even round about the land, and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be plundered.
As a result, says the Lord, an enemy will surround you, break down your strongholds, and plunder your fortresses.
12 Thus says Jehovah: As the shepherd rescues out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the sons of Israel be rescued who sit in Samaria in the corner of a couch, and on the silken cushions of a bed.
This is what the Lord says: Just as a shepherd tries to rescue a sheep from a lion's mouth, but only saves a couple of legs or a piece of an ear, so it will be for the people of Israel living in Samaria—all that will be “saved” will be the corner of a couch and a piece of a leg from a bed.
13 Hear ye, and testify against the house of Jacob, says the lord Jehovah, the God of hosts.
Listen! Warn the house of Jacob, declares the Lord God of power.
14 For in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will also visit the altars of Bethel, and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.
For on that day I will punish Israel for their sins. I will destroy the altars of Bethel: the corners of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.
15 And I will smite the winter house with the summer house, and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, says Jehovah.
I will tear down their winter houses and their summer houses as well, their houses filled with ivory will be ruined—their many houses will be destroyed.
