Amos 3

Hear 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,

1Listen to this word the LORD has spoken against you, people of Israel. He speaks against the whole family he brought up out of Egypt. This is what he says:

2You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.

2"Out of all the families on earth, you are the one I chose to know. So I will punish you for all the wrong things you have done."

3Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

3Can two people walk together if they never agreed where to go?

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?

4Does a lion roar in the woods when he has caught nothing? Does a young lion growl in his den if he caught no food?

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?

5Does a bird get caught in a trap when no bait is set? Does a trap snap shut when it has caught nothing at all?

NoteThe old word "gin" in this verse means a trap or snare, not anything to do with a drink.

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?

6If a horn blows to warn a city, don't the people shake with fear? If trouble comes to a city, hasn't the LORD sent it?

Note"Evil" here means disaster or trouble that happens to a city, like war or hunger. It does not mean God does something wicked.

7Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

7The Lord GOD never does anything without first telling his plan to his servants the prophets. A prophet is someone who tells people what God says.

8The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

8The lion has roared. Who would not be afraid? The Lord GOD has spoken. Who could keep from telling what he said?

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.

9Say this out loud in the strong palaces of Ashdod and in the palaces of Egypt: "Come together on the hills of Samaria. Look at the wild trouble inside that city. Look at the people being treated badly there."

10For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.

10"They do not even know how to do what is right," says the LORD. "They fill their palaces with things they took by force."

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.

11So this is what the Lord GOD says: "An enemy will surround your land. He will pull down the walls that keep you safe. Your palaces will be robbed."

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.

12This is what the LORD says: "A shepherd may grab two legs or a piece of an ear from a lion's mouth. That is all that will be left of the people of Israel who live in Samaria. They will be pulled out with only a corner of a bed or a piece of a couch."

13Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,

13"Listen, and speak out against the family of Jacob," says the Lord GOD, the God who leads armies.

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.

14"On the day I punish Israel for their sins, I will also punish the altars at Bethel. The horns on the corners of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground."

NoteAn altar was a stone table where people burned gifts to God. Its four corners stuck up like small horns, and people held onto them when asking for safety.

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.

15"I will knock down the winter house and the summer house together. The houses covered with ivory will be ruined. The great houses will come to an end," says the LORD.