Amos 3

1 Hear the word that the Lord hath spoken concerning you, O ye children of Israel: concerning the whole family that 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 have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore will I 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 except they be agreed?

Can two people walk together unless they have arranged to meet?

4 Will a lion roar in the forest, if he have no prey? will the lion’s whelp cry out of his den, if he have 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 Will the bird fall into the snare upon the earth, if there be no fowler? Shall the snare be taken up from the earth, before it hath taken somewhat?

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 sound in a city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, which the Lord hath not done?

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 For the Lord God doth nothing without revealing 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 shall roar, who will not fear? The Lord God hath spoken, who shall not 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 it in the houses of Azotus, and in the houses of the land of Egypt, and say: Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the many follies in the midst thereof, and them that suffer oppression in the inner rooms thereof.

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 And they have not known to do the right thing, saith the Lord, storing up iniquity, and robberies in their houses.

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 saith the Lord God: The land shall be in tribulation, and shall be compassed about: and thy strength shall be taken away from thee, and thy houses shall be spoiled.

As a result, says the Lord, an enemy will surround you, break down your strongholds, and plunder your fortresses.

12 Thus saith the Lord: As if a shepherd should get out of the lion’s mouth two legs, or the tip of the ear: so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria, in a piece of a bed, and in the couch of Damascus.

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 in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord the God of hosts:

Listen! Warn the house of Jacob, declares the Lord God of power.

14 That in the day when I shall begin to visit the transgressions of Israel, I will visit upon him, and upon the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altars shall be cut off, and shall 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 strike the winter house with the summer house: and the houses of ivory shall perish, and many houses shall be destroyed, saith the Lord.

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.