Amos 3

1 Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt:

Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,

2 “Only you have I known from all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.

3 Can two walk together without agreeing where to go?

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

4 Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Does a young lion growl in his den if he has caught nothing?

Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?

5 Does a bird land in a snare where no bait has been set? Does a trap spring from the ground when it has nothing to catch?

Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no animal trap is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?

6 If a ram’s horn sounds in a city, do the people not tremble? If calamity comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?

Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD has not done it?

7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he reveals his secret unto his servants the prophets.

8 The lion has roared— who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken— who will not prophesy?

The lion has roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD has spoken, who can but prophesy?

9 Proclaim to the citadels of Ashdod and to the citadels of Egypt: “Assemble on the mountains of Samaria; see the great unrest in the city and the acts of oppression in her midst.”

Publish 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 the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof.

10 “For they know not how to do right,” declares the LORD. “They store up violence and destruction in their citadels.”

For they know not to do right, says the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.

11 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “An enemy will surround the land; he will pull down your strongholds and plunder your citadels.”

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down your strength from you, and your palaces shall be spoiled.

12 This is what the LORD says: “As the shepherd snatches from the mouth of the lion two legs or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites dwelling in Samaria will be rescued having just the corner of a bed or the cushion of a couch.

Thus says the LORD; As the shepherd takes out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.

13 Hear and testify against the house of Jacob, declares the Lord GOD, the God of Hosts.

Hear all of you, and testify in the house of Jacob, says the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,

14 On the day I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will visit destruction on the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off, and they will fall to the ground.

That 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.

15 I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses of ivory will also perish, and the great houses will come to an end,”

And I will strike the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, says the LORD.