Amos 2:12-3:8

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

¹² But you made the nazirites drink wine
    and commanded the prophets,
    saying, “You shall not prophesy.”^(A)

¹³ So, I will press you down in your place,
    just as a cart presses down
    when it is full of sheaves.^[a](B)
14 Flight shall perish from the swift,
    and the strong shall not retain their strength,
    nor shall the mighty save their lives;^(C)
15 those who handle the bow shall not stand,
    and those who are swift of foot shall not save themselves,
    nor shall those who ride horses save their lives;^(D)
16 and those who are stout of heart among the mighty
    shall flee away naked on that day,
            says the Lord.^(E)

² You only have I known
    of all the families of the earth;
therefore I will punish you
    for all your iniquities.^(G)

³ Do two walk together
    unless they have made an appointment?^(H)
4 Does a lion roar in the forest
    when it has no prey?
Does a young lion cry out from its den
    if it has caught nothing?^(I)
5 Does a bird fall into 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?
⁶ Is a trumpet blown in a city,
    and the people are not afraid?
Does disaster befall a city
    unless the Lord has done it?^(J)
7 Surely the Lord God does nothing
    without revealing his secret
    to his servants the prophets.^(K)
8 The lion has roared;
    who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken;
    who can but prophesy?^(L)