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:
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.
2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will visit upon you all your iniquities.
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.
3 Will two walk together, except they have agreed?
Can two people walk together unless they have arranged to meet?
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?
Does a lion roar in the forest before finding its prey? Does a young lion growl from its den if it has caught nothing?
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?
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?
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?
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?
7 For the Lord GOD will do nothing, but He revealeth His counsel unto His servants the prophets.
For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his intentions to his servants the prophets.
8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? The Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
The lion has roared—so who isn't scared? The Lord God has spoken—so who can refuse to speak for him?
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.'
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.
10 For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.
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.
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.
As a result, says the Lord, an enemy will surround you, break down your strongholds, and plunder your fortresses.
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.
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.
13 Hear ye, and testify against the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts.
Listen! Warn the house of Jacob, declares the Lord God of power.
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.
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.
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.
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.
