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 YHWH has spoken concerning you, O sons of Israel, concerning all the family that I 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 known of all families of the earth, Therefore I charge on you all your iniquities.”
3 Can two people walk together unless they have arranged to meet?
Do two walk together if they have not met?
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 a forest and he has no prey? Does a young lion give out his voice from his habitation, If he has not caught?
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 fall into a snare of the earth, And there is no trap for it? Does a snare go up from the ground, And it does not capture prey?
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?
Is a horn blown in a city, And do people not tremble? Is there affliction in a city, And YHWH has not done [it]?
7 For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his intentions to his servants the prophets.
For Lord YHWH does nothing, Except He has revealed His counsel 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?
A lion has roared—who does not fear? Lord YHWH has spoken—who does 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.
“Sound to palaces in Ashdod, And to palaces in the land of Egypt, and say: Be gathered on mountains of Samaria, And see many troubles within her, And oppressed ones 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.
And they have not known to act straightforwardly,” A declaration of YHWH, “Who are treasuring up violence and spoil 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 said Lord YHWH: “An adversary—and surrounding the land, And he has brought down your strength from you, And your palaces have been spoiled.”
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 said YHWH: “As the shepherd delivers from the lion’s mouth Two legs, or a piece of an ear, So the sons of Israel are delivered, Who are sitting in Samaria on the corner of a bed, And in Damascus [on that of] a couch.
13 Listen! Warn the house of Jacob, declares the Lord God of power.
Hear and testify to the house of Jacob,” A declaration of Lord YHWH, 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 in the day of My charging the transgressions of Israel on him, I have laid a charge on the altars of Beth-El, And the horns of the altar have been cut off, And they have fallen to the earth.
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 have struck the winter-house with the summer-house, And houses of ivory have perished, And many houses have been consumed,” A declaration of YHWH!
