< Amos 3 >
1 Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt, saying:
以色列子民! 你們應聽從上主關於你們,即 由埃及領出來的全體民族所說的話:「
2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will visit upon you all your iniquities.
由世界上一切種族中,我只選擇了你們,為此,我必懲罰你們的罪惡。
3 Will two walk together, except they have agreed?
二人除非預約,豈能同行。
4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? Will a young lion give forth his voice out of his den, if he have taken nothing?
獅子若無獵物,豈能在林中咆哮﹖幼獅除非捕到食物,豈能在洞中吼叫﹖
5 Will a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where there is no lure for it? Will a snare spring up from the ground, and have taken nothing at all?
雀鳥若無餌食,豈能落在地上﹖機楹若無所獲,豈能由地上翻起﹖
6 Shall the horn be blown in a city, and the people not tremble? Shall evil befall a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
如在城中吹起號角,人民豈不恐怖﹖如城裏發生災禍,豈不是上主所為﹖
7 For the Lord GOD will do nothing, but He revealeth His counsel unto His servants the prophets.
的確,上主若不先將自己的計劃啟示給自己的先知,什麼也不作。
8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? The Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
獅子咆哮了,誰不害怕﹖吾主上主發了言,誰能不傳衪的話﹖」
9 Proclaim it upon the palaces at Ashdod, and upon the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say: 'Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great confusions therein, and the oppressions in the midst thereof.'
他們要在亞述和埃及的宮殿高處宣布說:你們應聚集在撒馬黎雅山上,觀看那裏的混亂和其中的殘暴。
10 For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.
他們不知行正直的事──上主的斷語──只知在宮殿內積累強暴和欺壓。
11 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD: An adversary, even round about the land! And he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.
為此,吾主上主這樣說:「敵人要圍困此地,推翻你的堡壘,搶掠你的宮殿。
12 Thus saith the LORD: As the shepherd rescueth out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel that dwell in Samaria escape with the corner of a couch, and the leg of a bed.
上主這樣說:牧人怎樣從樣由獅子口中搶救出兩條羊腿,或一塊羊耳,以色列子民,即在 撒馬利亞斜倚在安樂椅角上,或大馬士革榻上的人,也要怎樣被救出。
13 Hear ye, and testify against the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts.
你們靜聽,並對雅各伯家作証──吾主上主萬軍的天主的斷語──
14 For in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will also punish the altars of Beth-el, and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.
在我懲罰以色列罪惡之日,我必毀壞貝特耳的祭壇,祭壇的角必被打落在地上。
15 And I will smite the winter-house with the summer-house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD.
我要破壞過冬和過夏的別墅,象牙宮也必遭毀壞,高樓大廈也必蕩然無存」──上主的斷語。