Amos 3

1 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:

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 chosen of all the families of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all of your sins."

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

3 Do two walk together, unless they have agreed?

Will two walk together unless they have agreed?

4 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?

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 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?

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 Does the trumpet alarm sound in a city, without the people being afraid? Does disaster happen to a city, unless the LORD has 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 will do nothing, unless 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 has spoken. Who can but prophesy?

The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord Yahweh has spoken; who will not prophesy?

9 Proclaim in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, "Assemble yourselves on the mountain of Samaria, and see what unrest is in her, and what oppression is among them."

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 "Indeed they do not know to do right," says the LORD, "Who hoard plunder and loot 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: "An adversary will surround the land; and he will pull down your strongholds, and your fortresses will be plundered."

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 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."

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 "Listen, and testify against the house of Jacob," says the LORD, 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 "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.

“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 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.

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.”