Amos 3

1 Hear these words, which Jehovah speaketh against you, ye sons of Israel; Against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt!

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

2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth; Therefore will I punish you for 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 Can two walk together, Unless they agree together?

Do two walk together unless they agreed to meet?

4 Will the lion roar in the forest, When he seeth no prey? Will the young lion cry aloud from his den, If he have seized nothing?

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 into a snare upon the earth, Where none is set for him? Will a snare spring up from the ground, When it hath caught nothing?

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 trumpet be blown in the city, And the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil upon a city, And Jehovah not have 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 Surely the Lord Jehovah doeth nothing, But he revealeth his secret To his servants the prophets.

Surely the Lord God does nothing without revealing his purpose to his servants the prophets.

8 When the lion roareth, who will not fear? When the Lord Jehovah speaketh, who will not prophesy?

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

9 Proclaim ye, in the palaces in Ashdod, And in the palaces in the land of Egypt, And say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria; Behold the great tumults in the midst of her, And the oppressions 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 have no care to do right, saith Jehovah; They treasure up rapine 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 saith the Lord Jehovah: An enemy shall encompass the land. And shall bring down thy strength from thee, 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 saith Jehovah: As the shepherd taketh out of the lion's mouth Two legs, or a portion of an ear, So shall the children of Israel be taken out, Who in Samaria sit in the corners of their sofas, And upon their damask 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 testify to the house of Jacob, Saith the Lord, Jehovah, God of hosts!

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

14 In the day when I punish the transgressions of Israel, Then will I punish the altars of Bethel; The horns of the altar shall be cut off, And 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 be destroyed, And the great houses shall be brought to the ground, saith Jehovah.

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.