Amos 3

1 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.

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:

2 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.

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

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

Can two walk together without agreeing where to go?

4 Does a lion roar in the forest before finding its prey? Does a young lion growl from its den if it has caught nothing?

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?

5 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?

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?

6 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?

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?

7 For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his intentions to his servants the prophets.

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

8 The lion has roared—so who isn't scared? The Lord God has spoken—so who can refuse to speak for him?

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

9 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.

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.”

10 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.

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

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

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

12 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.

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.

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

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

14 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.

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.

15 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.

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,”