Authority of the Prophet’s Message

Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying:

“You(A) only have I known of all the families of the earth;
(B)Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey?
Will a young lion [a]cry out of his den, if he has caught nothing?
Will a bird fall into a snare on the earth, where there is no [b]trap for it?
Will a snare spring up from the earth, if it has caught nothing at all?
If a [c]trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid?
(C)If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it?

Surely the Lord God does nothing,
Unless (D)He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
A lion has roared!
Who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken!
(E)Who can but prophesy?

Punishment of Israel’s Sins

“Proclaim in the palaces at [d]Ashdod,
And in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say:
‘Assemble on the mountains of Samaria;
See great tumults in her midst,
And the [e]oppressed within her.
10 For they (F)do not know to do right,’
Says the Lord,
‘Who store up violence and [f]robbery in their palaces.’ ”

11 Therefore thus says the Lord God:

“An adversary shall be all around the land;
He shall sap your strength from you,
And your palaces shall be plundered.”

12 Thus says the Lord:

“As a shepherd [g]takes from the mouth of a lion
Two legs or a piece of an ear,
So shall the children of Israel be taken out
Who dwell in Samaria—
In the corner of a bed and [h]on the edge of a couch!
13 Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,”
Says the Lord God, the God of hosts,
14 “That in the day I punish Israel for their transgressions,
I will also visit destruction on the altars of (G)Bethel;
And the horns of the altar shall be cut off
And fall to the ground.
15 I will [i]destroy (H)the winter house along with (I)the summer house;
The (J)houses of ivory shall perish,
And the great houses shall have an end,”
Says the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Amos 3:4 Lit. give his voice
  2. Amos 3:5 Or bait or lure
  3. Amos 3:6 ram’s horn
  4. Amos 3:9 So with MT; LXX Assyria
  5. Amos 3:9 Or oppression
  6. Amos 3:10 Or devastation
  7. Amos 3:12 Or snatches
  8. Amos 3:12 Heb. uncertain, possibly on the cover
  9. Amos 3:15 Lit. strike

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