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 ye this word, which Yahweh hath spoken, concerning you, ye sons of Israel, —concerning the whole family which I brought up out of 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 acknowledged, of all the families of the ground, For this cause, will I visit upon you all your iniquities.
3 Can two people walk together unless they have arranged to meet?
Can two walk together, —except they meet?
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, prey, he hath none? Will a young lion utter his voice out of his den, when he hath made no capture?
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?
Will a bird fall upon a net to the earth, when there is no, snare, for it? Will a net rise from the ground, when it hath, captured 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?
Or a horn be blown in a city, and, a people, not tremble? Or calamity happen in a city, and, Yahweh, not have wrought with effect?
7 For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his intentions to his servants the prophets.
Surely My Lord Yahweh, will do, nothing, —except he have disclosed 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?
A lion, hath roared, Who will not fear? My Lord Yahweh, hath spoken, Who can forbear to 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.
Announce it over the palaces in Ashdod, and over the palaces in the land of Egypt, —and say ye—Gather yourselves together upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold ye—the great disorders in the midst thereof, and the oppressed 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.
Therefore do they not know how to do right, Declareth Yahweh, 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, saith My Lord, Yahweh, An adversary! Yea round about the land, —and he who shall bring down, from thee, thy strength, And spoiled shall be thy palaces.
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 Yahweh, Just as a shepherd rescueth, out of the mouth of the lion, a couple of shankbones, or the tip of an ear, so, shall be rescued the sons of Israel, who are tarrying in Samaria, in the corner of the divan, and on the damask of the luxurious couch.
13 Listen! Warn the house of Jacob, declares the Lord God of power.
Hear ye and bear witness, throughout the house of Jacob, —Commandeth My Lord, Yahweh, 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.
That, in the day I visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, then will I punish, concerning the altars of Bethel, So shall the horns of the altar, be broken off, 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 along with the summer house, —and the houses of ivory, shall be destroyed! and the great houses, shall disappear, Declareth Yahweh.
