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 these words, which Jehovah speaketh against you, ye sons of Israel; Against the whole family which 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.
You only have I known of all the families of the earth; Therefore will I punish you for all your iniquities.
3 Can two people walk together unless they have arranged to meet?
Can two walk together, Unless they agree together?
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 the lion roar in the forest, When he seeth no prey? Will the young lion cry aloud from his den, If he have seized 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 bird fall into a snare upon the earth, Where none is set for him? Will a snare spring up from the ground, When it hath caught nothing?
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 trumpet be blown in the city, And the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil upon a city, And Jehovah not have done it?
7 For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his intentions to his servants the prophets.
Surely the Lord Jehovah doeth nothing, But he revealeth his secret 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?
When the lion roareth, who will not fear? When the Lord Jehovah speaketh, 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 ye, in the palaces in Ashdod, And in the palaces in the land of Egypt, And say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria; Behold the great tumults in the midst of her, And the oppressions 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 have no care to do right, saith Jehovah; They treasure up rapine 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 Jehovah: An enemy shall encompass the land. And shall bring down thy strength from thee, 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 saith Jehovah: As the shepherd taketh out of the lion's mouth Two legs, or a portion of an ear, So shall the children of Israel be taken out, Who in Samaria sit in the corners of their sofas, And upon their damask couches.
13 Listen! Warn the house of Jacob, declares the Lord God of power.
Hear ye, and testify to the house of Jacob, Saith the Lord, Jehovah, 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.
In the day when I punish the transgressions of Israel, Then will I punish the altars of Bethel; The horns of the altar shall be cut 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 will smite the winter-house together with the summer-house, And the houses of ivory shall be destroyed, And the great houses shall be brought to the ground, saith Jehovah.
