Amos 3

1Hear 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,

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

3Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

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?footnote b

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?

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?footnote cfootnote d

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

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

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.footnote e

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

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.

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.footnote gfootnote h

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

14That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Beth-el: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.footnote i

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.

Witnesses against Israel

1Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt:

2“Only you have I knownfootnote afrom all the families of the earth;therefore I will punish youfor all your iniquities.”

3Can two walk togetherwithout agreeing where to go?footnote b 4Does a lion roar in the forestwhen he has no prey?Does a young lion growl in his denif he has caught nothing? 5Does a bird land in a snarewhere no bait has been set?Does a trap spring from the groundwhen it has nothing to catch? 6If a ram’s horn sounds in a city,do the people not tremble?If calamity comes to a city,has not the LORD caused it?

7Surely the Lord GOD does nothingwithout revealing His planto His servants the prophets. 8The lion has roared—who will not fear?The Lord GOD has spoken—who will not prophesy?

9Proclaim to the citadels of Ashdodand to the citadels of Egypt:“Assemble on the mountains of Samaria;see the great unrest in the cityand the acts of oppression in her midst.”

10“For they know not how to do right,”declares the LORD.“They store up violence and destructionin their citadels.”

11Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says:“An enemyfootnote cwill surround the land;he will pull down your strongholdsand plunder your citadels.”

12This is what the LORD says:“As the shepherd snatches from the mouth of the liontwo legs or a piece of an ear,so the Israelites dwelling in Samaria will be rescuedhaving just the corner of a bedor the cushion of a couch.footnote d

13Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,declares the Lord GOD, the God of Hosts. 14On the day I punish Israel for their transgressions,I will visit destruction on the altars of Bethel;the horns of the altar will be cut off,and they will fall to the ground. 15I will tear down the winter housealong with the summer house;the houses of ivory will also perish,and the great houses will come to an end,”declares the LORD.