1Hear 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,2You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.3Can two walk together, except they be agreed?4Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?5Can 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?6Shall 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 ?7Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.8The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?9Publish 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 thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof.10For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.11Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.12Thus 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.13Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,14That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.15And 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.
Amos 3
English Standard Version
Israel’s Guilt and Punishment
1Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt: (Am 2:10; Am 7:16)2“You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. (De 7:6; De 10:15; Ps 147:19; Ho 5:3; Ho 13:5; Mic 2:3; Mt 10:15; Mt 11:21; Lu 10:13; Lu 12:47; Ro 2:9)3“Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?4Does a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from his den, if he has taken nothing?5Does a bird fall in a snare on the earth, when there is no trap for it? Does a snare spring up from the ground, when it has taken nothing?6Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it? (Isa 45:7; La 3:38; Eze 33:4; Joe 2:1; Mic 1:12)7“For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. (Ge 18:17; Jer 15:1)8The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy?” (Nu 22:38)9Proclaim to the strongholds in Ashdod and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt, and say, “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria, and see the great tumults within her, and the oppressed in her midst.” (1Ki 16:24; 1Ki 21:1; Ps 94:5; Ps 103:6; Am 1:8; Am 4:1; Am 6:1)10“They do not know how to do right,” declares the Lord, “those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.” (Isa 3:14; Am 6:3; Mic 6:10)11Therefore thus says the Lord God: “An adversary shall surround the land and bring down[1] your defenses from you, and your strongholds shall be plundered.” (2Ki 17:5; 2Ki 18:9; Isa 39:6)12Thus says the Lord: “As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part[2] of a bed. (Ex 22:13; Jer 31:8; Am 6:4)13“Hear, and testify against the house of Jacob,” declares the Lord God, the God of hosts, (Ps 50:7; Ps 80:4; Ps 80:7; Ps 80:14; Ps 81:8; Am 4:13)14“that on the day I punish Israel for his transgressions, I will punish the altars of Bethel, and the horns of the altar shall be cut off and fall to the ground. (1Ki 13:1; 2Ki 23:15; Ho 10:15)15I will strike the winter house along with the summer house, and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses[3] shall come to an end,” declares the Lord. (Jud 3:20; 1Ki 22:39; Ps 45:8; Jer 36:22; Am 6:11)