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 out of the land of Egypt, saying:
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:
2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will visit upon you all your iniquities.
“I have chosen only you from all the families of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all your sins.”
3 Will two walk together, except they have agreed?
Will two walk together unless they have agreed?
4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? Will a young lion give forth his voice out of his den, if he have taken nothing?
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?
5 Will a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where there is no lure for it? Will a snare spring up from the ground, and have taken nothing at all?
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?
6 Shall the horn be blown in a city, and the people not tremble? Shall evil befall a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
If a trumpet sounds in a city, will the people not tremble? If disaster overtakes a city, has Yahweh not sent it?
7 For the Lord GOD will do nothing, but He revealeth His counsel unto His servants the prophets.
Surely the Lord Yahweh will do nothing unless he reveals 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 Yahweh has spoken; who will not prophesy?
9 Proclaim it upon the palaces at Ashdod, and upon the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say: 'Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great confusions therein, and the oppressions in the midst thereof.'
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.
10 For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.
For they do not know how to do right —this is Yahweh's declaration— They store up violence and destruction in their fortresses.”
11 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD: An adversary, even round about the land! And he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.
Therefore, this is what the Lord Yahweh says: “An enemy will surround the land, and pull down your strongholds and plunder your fortresses.”
12 Thus saith the LORD: As the shepherd rescueth out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel that dwell in Samaria escape with the corner of a couch, and the leg of a bed.
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.”
13 Hear ye, and testify against the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts.
Hear and testify against the house of Jacob —this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh, the God of hosts:
14 For in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will also punish the altars of Beth-el, and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.
“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.
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 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.”
