< Amos 3 >
1 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:
Hear this word that Jehovah hath spoken against you, children of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
2 “I have chosen only you from all the families of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all your sins.”
You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore will I visit upon you all your iniquities.
3 Will two walk together unless they have agreed?
Shall two walk together except they be agreed?
4 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?
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?
5 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?
Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth when no gin [is laid] for him? Will the snare spring up from the earth when nothing at all hath been taken?
6 If a trumpet sounds in a city, will the people not tremble? If disaster overtakes a city, has Yahweh not sent it?
Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and Jehovah not have done [it]?
7 Surely the Lord Yahweh will do nothing unless he reveals his plan to his servants the prophets.
But the Lord Jehovah will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
8 The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord Yahweh has spoken; who will not prophesy?
The lion hath roared, — who will not fear? The Lord Jehovah hath spoken, — who can but prophesy?
9 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.
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 uproar in the midst thereof, and the oppressions that are within her:
10 For they do not know how to do right —this is Yahweh's declaration— They store up violence and destruction in their fortresses.”
and they know not to do right, saith Jehovah, who store up violence and plunder in their palaces.
11 Therefore, this is what the Lord Yahweh says: “An enemy will surround the land, and pull down your strongholds and plunder your fortresses.”
Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: An adversary! — even round about the land! And he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be pillaged.
12 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.”
Thus saith Jehovah: Like as the shepherd rescueth out of the jaw of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be rescued that sit in Samaria in the corner of a couch, and upon the damask of a bed.
13 Hear and testify against the house of Jacob —this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh, the God of hosts:
Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord Jehovah, the God of hosts,
14 “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.
that in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will also punish the altars of Bethel; and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.
15 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.”
And I will smite the winter-house with the summer-house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and many houses shall have an end, saith Jehovah.