Amós 3

God’s Reasons for Punishing Israel

1 Listen to this message that the Lord has spoken against you, Israelites, against the entire clan that I brought from the land of Egypt:  * 3:1 Am 2:10

2 I have known only you  * 3:2 Ex 19:5–6; Dt 4:32–37

out of all the clans of the earth;

therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities.  * 3:2 Jr 14:10; Ezk 20:36; Dn 9:12

3 Can two walk together  * 3:3 Lv 26:23–24

without agreeing to meet?

4 Does a lion roar  * 3:4 Ps 104:21; Hs 5:14; 11:10 in the forest

when it has no prey?

Does a young lion growl from its lair

unless it has captured something?

5 Does a bird land in a trap on the ground

if there is no bait for it?

Does a trap spring from the ground

when it has caught nothing?

6 If a ram’s horn  * 3:6 Jr 4:5,19,21; 6:1; Hs 5:8; Zph 1:16 is blown in a city,

aren’t people afraid?  * 3:6 Nm 10:9; Jr 4:19; Jl 2:1

If a disaster  * 3:6 Is 14:24–27; 45:7 occurs in a city,

hasn’t the Lord done it?  * 3:6 Lm 3:37–39

7 Indeed, the Lord God does nothing

without revealing his counsel

to his servants the prophets.  * 3:7 Gn 18:17; Jr 23:18,22; Jnh 1:2

8 A lion has roared;  * 3:8 Am 1:2

who will not fear?

The Lord God has spoken;  * 3:8 Jnh 1:1–3; 3:1–3

who will not prophesy?  * 3:8 Jr 6:10–11; 20:9

9 Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod  * 3:9 1Sm 5:1; Am 1:8

and on the citadels in the land of Egypt:

Assemble on the mountains of Samaria,  * 3:9 Am 4:1; 6:1

and see the great turmoil in the city

and the acts of oppression within it.  * 3:9 Am 5:11; 6:8

10 The people are incapable of doing right  * 3:10 Ps 14:4; Jr 4:22; Am 5:7; 6:12  —

this is the  Lord’s declaration —

those who store up violence and destruction  * 3:10 Hab 2:8–10; Zph 1:9; Zch 5:3–4

in their citadels.

11 Therefore, the Lord God says:

An enemy  * 3:11 Am 6:14 will surround the land;

he will destroy  * 3:11 Am 2:14 your strongholds

and plunder your citadels.  * 3:11 2Kg 17:5–6; 18:9–12

12 The Lord says:

As the shepherd snatches two legs

or a piece of an ear

from the lion’s mouth,  * 3:12 1Sm 17:34–37

so the Israelites who live in Samaria

will be rescued

with only the corner of a bed  * 3:12 Ps 132:3

or the  * 3:12 Or Israelites will be rescued, those who sit in Samaria on a corner of a bed or a cushion  * 3:12 Hb obscure of a couch.  * 3:12 LXX, Aq, Sym, Theod, Syr, Tg, Vg read or in Damascus,* 3:12 Est 1:6; 7:8; Am 6:4

13 Listen and testify  * 3:13 Ezk 2:7 against the house of Jacob —

this is the declaration of the Lord God,

the God of Armies.

14 I will punish the altars of Bethel  * 3:14 Hs 10:5–8,14–15; Am 4:4; 5:5–6; 7:10,13

on the day I punish Israel for its crimes;

the horns of the altar  * 3:14 Lv 8:15; 16:18–19; 1Kg 1:50–51; 2:28; Ps 118:27 will be cut off

and fall to the ground.  * 3:14 Hs 10:1–2

15 I will demolish the winter house  * 3:15 Jr 36:22

and the summer house;  * 3:15 Jdg 3:20

the houses inlaid with ivory  * 3:15 1Kg 22:39; 2Ch 9:17; Am 6:4 will be destroyed,

and the great houses  * 3:15 Am 2:5; 6:11 will come to an end.

This is the  Lord’s declaration.