Amos, 3

1. Listen, Israelites, to this prophecy which Yahweh pronounces against you, against the whole family which I brought up from Egypt:

1. 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,

2. You alone have I intimately known of all the families of earth, that is why I shall punish you for all your wrong-doings.

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

3. Do two people travel together unless they have agreed to do so?

3. Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

4. Does the lion roar in the forest if it has no prey? Does the young lion growl in his lair if it has caught nothing?

4. Will 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?

5. Does a bird fall on the ground in a net unless a trap has been set for it? Will the net spring up from the ground without catching something?

5. Can 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?

6. Does the trumpet sound in the city without the people being alarmed? Does misfortune come to a city if Yahweh has not caused it?

6. Shall 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]?

7. No indeed, Lord Yahweh does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.

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

8. The lion roars: who is not afraid? Lord Yahweh has spoken: who will not prophesy?

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

9. From the palace roofs of Assyria and from the palace roofs of Egypt, proclaim aloud, 'Assemble on the hills of Samaria and observe the grave disorders inside her and the acts of oppression there!'

9. Publish 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.

10. Little they know of right conduct -declares Yahweh- who cram their palaces with violence and extortion.

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

11. This is why -- Lord Yahweh says this- an enemy will soon besiege the land, he will bring down your strength and your palaces will be looted.

11. Therefore 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.

12. Yahweh says this: As the shepherd rescues two legs or the tip of an ear from the lion's mouth, so will the children of Israel be salvaged who now loll in Samaria in the corners of their beds, on their divans of Damascus.

12. Thus 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.

13. Listen and testify against the House of Jacob -declares the Lord Yahweh, God Sabaoth-

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

14. the day when I punish Israel for his crimes I shall also punish the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be hacked off and will fall to the ground.

14. That 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.

15. I shall blast winter house with summer house, ivory houses will be destroyed and many mansions cease to be -declares Yahweh.

15. And 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.