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 from 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 punish you for 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 Can two walk together, except they be 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 cry 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 Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, 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 a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in 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 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret 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 Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed 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 there shall be 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 taketh 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.

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 in 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 That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit 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。