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 this message, Israelites, which the Lord has spoken against you, against the whole nation that I brought out of Egypt:

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

You alone have I cared for of all the nations of the world, this is why I will punish you for your crimes.

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

Do two walk together unless they agreed to meet?

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?

Does a lion roar in the forest when there is no prey for him? Does a young lion cry out in his den unless he has caught 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?

Does a bird swoop down into a trap if no bait is set for it? Does a trap spring up from the ground if nothing sets it off?

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?

Can a trumpet be blown in a city and the people not tremble? Can disaster strike a city and the Lord not have caused it?

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

Surely the Lord God does nothing without revealing his purpose 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 has roared; who does 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.

Proclaim over the palaces in Ashdod, and over the palaces in the land of Egypt: Gather upon the mountain of Samaria, and see the violent turmoil, the acts of oppression in her midst.

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

For they do not know how to do right. They are heaping up violence and oppression in their palaces, says the Lord.

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.

Therefore the Lord God says: An enemy will surround the land, he will strip your strength from you. and your palaces will be looted.

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.

The Lord says: Just as a shepherd rescues from the jaws of a lion two shinbones or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites living in Sameria will be rescued – with the corner of a couch, and the damask of a divan!

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

Listen and testify against the house of Jacob, says the Lord God, the 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.

On the day when I punish Israel for their crimes, I will also visit in judgment the altars of Bethel, the horns of the altar will be hacked off, and they 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.

I will destroy the winter houses together with the summer houses and the houses of ivory will perish. Many great houses will be swept away, says the Lord.