Amos 3

1 Hear this word which the Lord hath spoken concerning you, O children of Israel, concerning the whole family which I have brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,

Listen to the word which the Lord has spoken about you, sons of Israel, concerning the whole family that I led out of the land of Egypt, saying:

2 Only you have I loved out of all the families of the earth: therefore will I visit upon you all your iniquities.

I have known only you in such a way, out of all the families of the earth. For this reason, I will visit upon you all your iniquities.

3 Will two walk together, except they had agreed [to do so]?

Will two walk together, unless they have agreed to do so?

4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion send forth his voice out of his den, unless he have caught something?

Will a lion roar in the forest, unless he has prey? Will the lion’s young cry out from his den, unless he has taken something?

5 Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, when there is no gin for him? is ever a snare taken up from the ground, when it hath caught nothing at all?

Will a bird fall into a snare on the ground, if there is no bird-catcher? Will a snare be taken away from the ground, before it has caught something?

6 Shall a cornet be blown in a city, and the people not become afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord have not done it?

Will the trumpet sound in a city, and the people not become frightened? Will there be disaster in a city, which the Lord has not done?

7 For the Lord Eternal will do nothing, unless he have revealed his secret unto his servants the prophets.

For the Lord God does not fulfill his word, unless he has revealed his secret to his servants the prophets.

8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord Eternal hath spoken, who will not prophesy?

The lion will roar, who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken, who will not prophesy?

9 Publish at the palaces in Ashdod, and at the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great confusions in her midst, and the oppressions [that are] within her.

Let it be heard in the buildings of Ashdod and in the buildings of the land of Egypt, and say: Gather together across the mountains of Samaria, and see the many absurdities in its midst, and those who are suffering false accusations in its inner most places.

10 For they know not how to act rightly, saith the Lord, who treasure up violence and robbery in their palaces.

And they do not know how to make it right, says the Lord, storing up iniquity and plunder in their buildings.

11 Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, The adversary [is there] and surroundeth the land: and he shall bring down from thee thy strength, and thy palaces shall be plundered.

Because of these things, thus says the Lord God: The land will be encircled and squeezed together. And your strength will be drawn away from you, and your buildings will be torn apart.

12 Thus hath said the Lord, As the shepherd snatcheth out of the mouth of the lion [at most] two leg-bones, or a tip of the ear: so shall be delivered the children of Israel that sit in Samaria on the corner of a bed, and on Damascus couches.

Thus says the Lord: Just as if a shepherd had rescued two legs from the mouth of a lion, or the tip of an ear, so also will the sons of Israel be rescued, who dwell in the sick bed of Samaria, and in the cot of Damascus.

13 Hear ye, and give warning in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord Eternal, the God of hosts.

Listen and give testimony in the house of Jacob, says the Lord God of hosts:

14 For on the day when I visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, will I also inflict punishment on the altars of Beth-el: and then shall be hewn off the horns of the altar, and they shall fall to the ground.

that in the day, when I will begin to visit the betrayals of Israel, I will visit upon him and upon the altars of Bethel. And the horns of the altars will be cut off and will fall to the ground.

15 And I will smite the winter-house together with the summer-house: and the houses of ivory shall disappear, and the great houses shall be no more, saith the Lord.

And I will strike the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory will perish, and many buildings will be torn apart, says the Lord.