Amos 3 - New International Version, 1984
Witnesses Summoned Against Israel
Hear this word the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel—against the whole family I brought up out of Egypt:
Hear this word the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel—against the whole family I brought up out of Egypt:
“You only have I chosen
of all the families of the earth;
therefore I will punish you
for all your sins.”
of all the families of the earth;
therefore I will punish you
for all your sins.”
Do two walk together
unless they have agreed to do so?
unless they have agreed to do so?
Does a lion roar in the thicket
when he has no prey?
Does he growl in his den
when he has caught nothing?
when he has no prey?
Does he growl in his den
when he has caught nothing?
Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground
where no snare has been set?
Does a trap spring up from the earth
when there is nothing to catch?
where no snare has been set?
Does a trap spring up from the earth
when there is nothing to catch?
When a trumpet sounds in a city,
do not the people tremble?
When disaster comes to a city,
has not the Lord caused it?
do not the people tremble?
When disaster comes to a city,
has not the Lord caused it?
Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing
without revealing his plan
to his servants the prophets.
without revealing his plan
to his servants the prophets.
The lion has roared—
who will not fear?
The Sovereign Lord has spoken—
who can but prophesy?
who will not fear?
The Sovereign Lord has spoken—
who can but prophesy?
Proclaim to the fortresses of Ashdod
and to the fortresses of Egypt:
“Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria;
see the great unrest within her
and the oppression among her people.”
and to the fortresses of Egypt:
“Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria;
see the great unrest within her
and the oppression among her people.”
“They do not know how to do right,” declares the Lord,
“who hoard plunder and loot in their fortresses.”
“who hoard plunder and loot in their fortresses.”
Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“An enemy will overrun the land;
he will pull down your strongholds
and plunder your fortresses.”
“An enemy will overrun the land;
he will pull down your strongholds
and plunder your fortresses.”
This is what the Lord says:
“As a shepherd saves from the lion’s mouth
only two leg bones or a piece of an ear,
so will the Israelites be saved,
those who sit in Samaria
on the edge of their beds
and in Damascus on their couches.”
“As a shepherd saves from the lion’s mouth
only two leg bones or a piece of an ear,
so will the Israelites be saved,
those who sit in Samaria
on the edge of their beds
and in Damascus on their couches.”
“Hear this and testify against the house of Jacob,” declares the Lord, the Lord God Almighty.
“On the day I punish Israel for her sins,
I will destroy the altars of Bethel;
the horns of the altar will be cut off
and fall to the ground.
I will destroy the altars of Bethel;
the horns of the altar will be cut off
and fall to the ground.
I will tear down the winter house
along with the summer house;
the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed
and the mansions will be demolished,”
declares the Lord.
along with the summer house;
the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed
and the mansions will be demolished,”
declares the Lord.