Amos 3

1 Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,

Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt:

2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.

“Only you have I known from all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

3 Can two walk together, except they are agreed?

Can two walk together without agreeing where to go?

4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he hath taken nothing?

Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Does a young lion growl in his den if he has caught nothing?

5 Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin [is] for him? shall [one] take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?

Does a bird land in a snare where no bait has been set? Does a trap spring from the ground when it has nothing to catch?

6 Shalt a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done [it]?

If a ram’s horn sounds in a city, do the people not tremble? If calamity comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?

7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret to his servants the prophets.

Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.

8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

The lion has roared— who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken— who will not prophesy?

9 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 tumults in the midst of it, and the oppressed in the midst of it.

Proclaim to the citadels of Ashdod and to the citadels of Egypt: “Assemble on the mountains of Samaria; see the great unrest in the city and the acts of oppression in her midst.”

10 For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.

“For they know not how to do right,” declares the LORD. “They store up violence and destruction in their citadels.”

11 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary [there shall be] even around the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be plundered.

Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “An enemy will surround the land; he will pull down your strongholds and plunder your citadels.”

12 Thus saith the LORD: As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus [in] a couch.

This is what the LORD says: “As the shepherd snatches from the mouth of the lion two legs or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites dwelling in Samaria will be rescued having just the corner of a bed or the cushion of a couch.

13 Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,

Hear and testify against the house of Jacob, declares the Lord GOD, the God of Hosts.

14 That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will also visit the altars of Beth-el: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.

On the day I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will visit destruction on the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off, and they will fall to the ground.

15 And I will smite the winter-house with the summer-house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD.

I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses of ivory will also perish, and the great houses will come to an end,”