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.

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

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.

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 people walk together unless they have arranged to meet?

Do two walk together unless they agreed to meet?

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?

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 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?

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 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?

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

Surely the Lord God does nothing without revealing his purpose 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 does not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who will not 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 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 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.

For they do not know how to do right. They are heaping up violence and oppression in their palaces, says the Lord.

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 enemy will surround the land, he will strip your strength from you. and your palaces will be looted.

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: 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 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.

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 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 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.