Amos 3
1 Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
Hear this word that Yahweh has spoken against you, people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt:
2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
“I have chosen only you from all the families of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all your sins.”
3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
Will two walk together unless they have agreed?
4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?
Will a lion roar in the forest when he has no victim? Will a young lion growl from his den if he has caught nothing?
5 Can a bird fall in a snare on the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
Can a bird fall in a trap on the ground when no bait is set for him? Will a trap spring up from the ground when it has not caught anything?
6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD has not done it?
If a trumpet sounds in a city, will the people not tremble? If disaster overtakes a city, has Yahweh not sent it?
7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets.
Surely the Lord Yahweh will do nothing unless he reveals his plan to his servants the prophets.
8 The lion has roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD has spoken, who can but prophesy?
The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord Yahweh has spoken; who will not prophesy?
9 Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the middle thereof, and the oppressed in the middle thereof.
Proclaim this in the fortresses at Ashdod, and in the fortresses in the land of Egypt; say, “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria and see what great confusion is in her, and what oppression is in her.
10 For they know not to do right, says the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.
For they do not know how to do right —this is Yahweh's declaration— They store up violence and destruction in their fortresses.”
11 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down your strength from you, and your palaces shall be spoiled.
Therefore, this is what the Lord Yahweh says: “An enemy will surround the land, and pull down your strongholds and plunder your fortresses.”
12 Thus says the LORD; As the shepherd takes out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.
This is what Yahweh says: “As the shepherd rescues out of the mouth of the lion two legs only, or a piece of an ear; so will the people of Israel who live in Samaria be rescued; they will be left with only the corner of a couch or a piece of a bed.”
13 Hear you, and testify in the house of Jacob, says the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,
Hear and testify against the house of Jacob —this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh, the God of hosts:
14 That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel on him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.
“For in the day that I punish the sins of Israel, I will also punish the altars of Bethel. The horns 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, says the LORD.
I will destroy the winter house with the summer house. The houses of ivory will perish, and the large houses will vanish, —this is Yahweh's declaration.”
