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.

Heare this worde that the Lord pronounceth against you, O children of Israel, euen against the whole familie which I brought vp from the land of Egypt, saying,

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.

You onely haue I knowen of all the families of the earth: therefore I will visite you for all your iniquities.

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

Can two walke together except they bee agreed?

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?

Will a lion roare in ye forest, when he hath no pray? or wil a lions whelpe cry out of his den, if he haue taken 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?

Can a birde fall in a snare vpon the earth, where no fouler is? or will he take vp the snare from the earth, and haue taken nothing at all?

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?

Or shall a trumpet be blowen in the citie, and the people be not afraide? or shall there be euil in a citie, and the Lord hath not done it?

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

Surely the Lord God will doe nothing, but he reueileth his secrete vnto his seruantes 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 lyon hath roared: who will not bee afraide? the Lord God hath spoken: who can but prophecie?

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.

Proclayme in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the lande of Egypt, and saye, Assemble your selues vpon the mountaines of Samaria: so beholde the great tumultes in the middes thereof, and the oppressed in the middes thereof.

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 knowe not to doe right, sayth the Lord: they store vp violence, and robbery in their palaces.

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

Therefore thus saith the Lord God, An aduersary shall come euen rounde about the countrey, and shall bring downe thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shalbe spoyled.

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.

Thus saieth the Lord, As the shephearde taketh out of the mouth of the lyon two legges, or a piece of an eare: so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus, as in a couche.

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

Heare, and testifie in the house of Iaakob, saith the Lord God, the God of hostes.

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.

Surely in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel vpon him, I wil also visite the altars of Beth-el, and the hornes of the altar shall be broken off, and 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.

And I wil smite the winter house with the sommer house, and the houses of yuorie shall perish, and the great houses shalbe consumed, sayth the Lord.