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 which the Lord hath spoken concerning you, O children of Israel, concerning the whole family which I have brought up 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.
Only you have I loved out of all the families of the earth: therefore will I visit upon you all your iniquities.
3 Can two people walk together unless they have arranged to meet?
Will two walk together, except they had agreed [to do so]?
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 roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion send forth his voice out of his den, unless he have caught something?
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 bird fall in a snare upon the earth, when there is no gin for him? is ever a snare taken up from the ground, when it hath caught 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?
Shall a cornet be blown in a city, and the people not become afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord have not done it?
7 For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his intentions to his servants the prophets.
For the Lord Eternal will do nothing, unless he have revealed his secret unto 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 hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord Eternal hath 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.
Publish at the palaces in Ashdod, and at the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great confusions in her midst, and the oppressions [that are] within her.
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 act rightly, saith the Lord, who treasure up 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 hath said the Lord Eternal, The adversary [is there] and surroundeth the land: and he shall bring down from thee thy strength, and thy palaces shall be plundered.
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 hath said the Lord, As the shepherd snatcheth out of the mouth of the lion [at most] two leg-bones, or a tip of the ear: so shall be delivered the children of Israel that sit in Samaria on the corner of a bed, and on Damascus couches.
13 Listen! Warn the house of Jacob, declares the Lord God of power.
Hear ye, and give warning in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord Eternal, 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.
For on the day when I visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, will I also inflict punishment on the altars of Beth-el: and then shall be hewn off the horns of the altar, and they shall 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 will smite the winter-house together with the summer-house: and the houses of ivory shall disappear, and the great houses shall be no more, saith the Lord.
