< Amos 7 >
1 This is what the Lord GOD showed me: He was preparing swarms of locusts just after the king’s harvest, as the late spring crop was coming up.
主耶和華指示我一件事:為王割菜之後,菜又發生;剛發生的時候,主造蝗蟲。
2 And when the locusts had eaten every green plant in the land, I said, “Lord GOD, please forgive! How will Jacob survive, since he is so small?”
蝗蟲吃盡那地的青物,我就說:「主耶和華啊,求你赦免;因為雅各微弱,他怎能站立得住呢?」
3 So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen,” He said.
耶和華就後悔說:「這災可以免了。」
4 This is what the Lord GOD showed me: The Lord GOD was calling for judgment by fire. It consumed the great deep and devoured the land.
主耶和華又指示我一件事:他命火來懲罰以色列,火就吞滅深淵,險些將地燒滅。
5 Then I said, “Lord GOD, please stop! How will Jacob survive, since he is so small?”
我就說:「主耶和華啊,求你止息;因為雅各微弱,他怎能站立得住呢?」
6 So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen either,” said the Lord GOD.
耶和華就後悔說:「這災也可免了。」
7 This is what He showed me: Behold, the Lord was standing by a wall true to plumb, with a plumb line in His hand.
他又指示我一件事:有一道牆是按準繩建築的,主手拿準繩站在其上。
8 “Amos, what do you see?” asked the LORD. “A plumb line,” I replied. “Behold,” said the Lord, “I am setting a plumb line among My people Israel; I will no longer spare them:
耶和華對我說:「阿摩司啊,你看見甚麼?」我說:「看見準繩。」主說:「我要吊起準繩在我民以色列中,我必不再寬恕他們。
9 The high places of Isaac will be deserted, and the sanctuaries of Israel will be laid waste; and I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with My sword.”
以撒的邱壇必然淒涼;以色列的聖所必然荒廢。我必興起,用刀攻擊耶羅波安的家。」
10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words,
伯特利的祭司亞瑪謝打發人到以色列王耶羅波安那裏,說:「阿摩司在以色列家中圖謀背叛你;他所說的一切話,這國擔當不起;
11 for this is what Amos has said: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely go into exile, away from their homeland.’”
因為阿摩司如此說:『耶羅波安必被刀殺;以色列民定被擄去離開本地。』」
12 And Amaziah said to Amos, “Go away, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah; earn your bread there and do your prophesying there.
亞瑪謝又對阿摩司說:「你這先見哪,要逃往猶大地去,在那裏糊口,在那裏說預言,
13 But never prophesy at Bethel again, because it is the sanctuary of the king and the temple of the kingdom.”
卻不要在伯特利再說預言;因為這裏有王的聖所,有王的宮殿。」
14 “I was not a prophet,” Amos replied, “nor was I the son of a prophet; rather, I was a herdsman and a tender of sycamore-fig trees.
阿摩司對亞瑪謝說:「我原不是先知,也不是先知的門徒。我是牧人,又是修理桑樹的。
15 But the LORD took me from following the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’
耶和華選召我,使我不跟從羊群,對我說:『你去向我民以色列說預言。』
16 Now, therefore, hear the word of the LORD. You say: ‘Do not prophesy against Israel; do not preach against the house of Isaac.’
亞瑪謝啊,現在你要聽耶和華的話。你說:『不要向以色列說預言,也不要向以撒家滴下預言。』
17 Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be divided by a measuring line, and you yourself will die on pagan soil. And Israel will surely go into exile, away from their homeland.’”
所以耶和華如此說:『你的妻子必在城中作妓女;你的兒女必倒在刀下。你的地必有人用繩子量了分取;你自己必死在污穢之地。以色列民定被擄去離開本地。』」