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 ye this word that Jehovah hath spoken concerning you, O sons of Israel, concerning all the family that 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.”

Only you I have known of all families of the land, Therefore I charge on you all your iniquities.

3 Can two walk together without agreeing where to go?

Do two walk together if they have not met?

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?

Roar doth a lion in a forest and prey he hath none? Give out doth a young lion his voice from his habitation, If he hath not caught?

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?

Doth a bird fall into a snare of the earth, And there is no gin for it? Doth a snare go up from the ground, And prey it captureth not?

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?

Is a trumpet blown in a city, And do people not tremble? Is there affliction in a city, And Jehovah hath not done [it]?

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

For the Lord Jehovah doth nothing, Except He hath revealed His counsel unto His servants the prophets.

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

A lion hath roared — who doth not fear? The Lord Jehovah hath spoken — who doth not 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.”

Sound ye unto palaces in Ashdod, And to palaces in the land of Egypt, and say: Be ye gathered on mountains of Samaria, And see many troubles within her, And oppressed ones in her midst.

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

And they have not known to act straightforwardly, An affirmation of Jehovah, Who are treasuring up violence and spoil 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 said the Lord Jehovah: An adversary — and surrounding the land, And he hath brought down from thee thy strength, And spoiled have been thy palaces.

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 said Jehovah: As the shepherd delivereth from the lion's mouth Two legs, or a piece of an ear, So delivered are the sons of Israel, Who are sitting in Samaria on the corner of a bed, And in Damascus [on that of] a couch.

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

Hear ye and testify to the house of Jacob, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, 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.

For in the day of My charging the transgressions of Israel on him, I have laid a charge on the altars of Beth-El, And cut off have been the horns of the altar, And they have fallen to the earth.

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 have smitten the winter-house with the summer-house, And perished have houses of ivory, And consumed have been many houses, An affirmation of Jehovah!