Amos 3

1 People of Israel, listen to this message that the Lord has spoken against you—all of you, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt.

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:

2 I chose a special relationship with you alone out of all the families of the earth, and so I will punish you for your wrongdoing.

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

3 Can two people walk together unless they have arranged to meet?

Do two walk together, unless they have agreed?

4 Does a lion roar in the forest before finding its prey? Does a young lion growl from its den if it has caught nothing?

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?

5 Does a bird fall into a trap and get caught unless the spring is set? Does a trap spring shut if there's nothing there to catch?

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?

6 When the trumpet sounds in the city, shouldn't the people be alarmed? When a disaster comes to a city, isn't it the Lord who does it?

Does the shofar alarm sound in a city, without the people being afraid? Does evil happen to a city, and the LORD hasn’t done it?

7 For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his intentions to his servants the prophets.

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets.

8 The lion has roared—so who isn't scared? The Lord God has spoken—so who can refuse to speak for him?

The lion has roared. Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken. Who can but prophesy?

9 Announce this to the fortresses of Ashdod and to the fortresses in the land of Egypt: Assemble yourselves on Samaria's mountains and see all the turmoil and oppression happening in the country.

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

10 They don't know how to do what is right, declares the Lord. They have stored up in their fortresses what they've taken by violence and robbery.

“Indeed they don’t know to do right,” says the LORD, “Who hoard plunder and loot in their palaces.”

11 As a result, says the Lord, an enemy will surround you, break down your strongholds, and plunder your fortresses.

Therefore the Lord GOD says: “An adversary will overrun the land; and he will pull down your strongholds, and your fortresses will be plundered.”

12 This is what the Lord says: Just as a shepherd tries to rescue a sheep from a lion's mouth, but only saves a couple of legs or a piece of an ear, so it will be for the people of Israel living in Samaria—all that will be “saved” will be the corner of a couch and a piece of a leg from a bed.

The LORD says: “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.”

13 Listen! Warn the house of Jacob, declares the Lord God of power.

“Listen, and testify against the house of Jacob,” says the Lord GOD, the God of Hosts.

14 For on that day I will punish Israel for their sins. I will destroy the altars of Bethel: the corners of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.

“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.

15 I will tear down their winter houses and their summer houses as well, their houses filled with ivory will be ruined—their many houses will be destroyed.

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.