Amos 1

Judgment on Israel’s Neighbors

1 These are the words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders*1:1 Or sheep breeders of Tekoa— what he saw concerning Israel two years*1:1 Or during the two years before the earthquake, in the days when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash*1:1 Hebrew Joash, a variant of Jehoash was king of Israel. 2 He said:

"The LORD roars from Zion

and raises His voice from Jerusalem;

the pastures of the shepherds mourn,

and the summit of Carmel withers."

3 This is what the LORD says:

"For three transgressions of Damascus, even four,

I will not revoke My judgment,*1:3 Or I will not revoke the punishment; Hebrew I will not revoke it; also in verses 6, 9, 11, and 13

because they threshed Gilead

with sledges of iron.

4 So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael

to consume the citadels of Ben-hadad.

5 I will break down the gates of Damascus;

I will cut off the ruler*1:5 Or the inhabitants from the Valley of Aven*1:5 Aven means wickedness.

and the one who wields the scepter in Beth-eden.

The people of Aram will be exiled to Kir,"

says the LORD.

6 This is what the LORD says:

"For three transgressions of Gaza, even four,

I will not revoke My judgment,

because they exiled a whole population,

delivering them up to Edom.

7 So I will send fire upon the walls of Gaza,

to consume its citadels.

8 I will cut off the ruler of Ashdod

and the one who wields the scepter in Ashkelon.

I will turn My hand against Ekron,

and the remnant of the Philistines will perish,"

says the Lord GOD.

9 This is what the LORD says:

"For three transgressions of Tyre, even four,

I will not revoke My judgment,

because they delivered up a whole congregation of exiles to Edom

and broke a covenant of brotherhood.

10 So I will send fire upon the walls of Tyre

to consume its citadels."

11 This is what the LORD says:

"For three transgressions of Edom, even four,

I will not revoke My judgment,

because he pursued his brother with the sword

and stifled all compassion;

his anger raged continually,

and his fury flamed incessantly.

12 So I will send fire upon Teman

to consume the citadels of Bozrah."

13 This is what the LORD says:

"For three transgressions of the Ammonites, even four,

I will not revoke My judgment,

because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead

in order to enlarge their territory.

14 So I will kindle a fire in the walls of Rabbah

to consume its citadels

amid war cries on the day of battle

and a violent wind on the day of tempest.

15 Their king will go into exile*1:15 Possibly Milcom will go into exile; Milcom, also called Molech, was god of the Ammonites; see Leviticus 18:21 and 1 Kings 11:7. —

he and his princes together,"

says the LORD.