Amos 2:6-3:8

English Standard Version

^(A)“For three transgressions of Israel,
    and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because ^(B)they sell the righteous for ^(C)silver,
    and the needy for a pair of sandals—
⁷ those who trample the head of the poor ^(D)into the dust of the earth
    and ^(E)turn aside the way of the afflicted;
^(F)a man and his father go in to the same girl,
    so that my holy name is profaned;
⁸ they lay themselves down beside every altar
    on garments ^(G)taken in pledge,
and in the house of their God they drink
    the wine of those who have been fined.

⁹ “Yet ^(H)it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them,
    ^(I)whose height was like the height of the cedars
    and who was as strong as the oaks;
^(J)I destroyed his fruit above
    and his roots beneath.
^10 (K)Also it was I who brought you up out of the land of Egypt
    ^(L)and led you forty years in the wilderness,
    ^(M)to possess the land of the Amorite.
¹¹ And I raised up some of your sons for prophets,
    and some of your young men for ^(N)Nazirites.
    Is it not indeed so, O people of Israel?”
declares the Lord.

¹² “But you made the Nazirites ^(O)drink wine,
    and commanded the prophets,
    saying, ^(P)‘You shall not prophesy.’

¹³ “Behold, I will press you down in your place,
    as a cart full of sheaves presses down.
^14 (Q)Flight shall perish from the swift,
    ^(R)and the strong shall not retain his strength,
    ^(S)nor shall the mighty save his life;
¹⁵ he who handles the bow shall not stand,
    and he who is ^(T)swift of foot shall not save himself,
    ^(U)nor shall he who rides the horse save his life;
¹⁶ and he who is stout of heart among the mighty
    shall flee away naked in that day,”
declares the Lord.

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

³ “Do two walk together,
    unless they have agreed to meet?
⁴ Does 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?
⁵ Does 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?
^6 (Y)Is a trumpet blown in a city,
    and the people are not afraid?
^(Z)Does disaster come to a city,
    unless the Lord has done it?

⁷ “For the Lord God does nothing
    ^(AA)without revealing his secret
    to his servants the prophets.
⁸ The lion has roared;
    who will not fear?
^(AB)The Lord God has spoken;
    who can but prophesy?”