Amos 3

1 Hear this word that YHWH hath 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 the LORD has spoken against you, children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt, saying:

2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.

“I have only chosen you of all the families of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all of your sins.”

3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Do two walk together, unless they have agreed?

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?

Will a lion roar in the thicket, when he has no prey? Does a young lion cry out of his den, if he has caught nothing?

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?

Can a bird fall in a trap on the earth, where no snare is set for him? Does a snare spring up from the ground, when there is nothing to catch?

6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and YHWH hath not done it?

Does the trumpet alarm sound in a city, without the people being afraid? Does evil happen to a city, and the LORD hasn’t done it?

7 Surely the Sovereign YHWH will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets.

8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? The Sovereign YHWH hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

The lion has roared. Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken. Who can but prophesy?

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.

Proclaim in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria, and see what unrest is in her, and what oppression is amongst them.”

10 For they know not to do right, saith YHWH, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.

“Indeed they don’t know to do right,” says the LORD, “Who hoard plunder and loot in their palaces.”

11 Therefore thus saith Sovereign YHWH; 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.

Therefore the Lord GOD says: “An adversary will overrun the land; and he will pull down your strongholds, and your fortresses will be plundered.”

12 Thus saith YHWH; 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.

The LORD says: “As the shepherd rescues out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be rescued who sit in Samaria on the corner of a couch, and on the silken cushions of a bed.”

13 Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Sovereign YHWH, the Elohim of hosts,

“Listen, and testify against the house of Jacob,” says the Lord GOD, the God of Armies.

14 That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon 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 visit the transgressions of Israel on him, I will also visit the altars of Bethel; and 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, saith YHWH.

I will strike the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory will perish, and the great houses will have an end,” says the LORD.