Amos

Amos, chapter 3, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 3 New English Translation

Every Effect has its Cause

   1 Listen, you Israelites, to this message which the LORD is proclaiming against you! This message is for the entire clan I brought up from the land of Egypt: 2 "I have chosen you alone from all the clans of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all your sins."
   3 Do two walk together without having met?
   4 Does a lion roar in the woods if he has not cornered his prey? Does a young lion bellow from his den if he has not caught something?
   5 Does a bird swoop down into a trap on the ground if there is no bait? Does a trap spring up from the ground unless it has surely caught something?
   6 If an alarm sounds in a city, do people not fear? If disaster overtakes a city, is the LORD not responsible?
   7 Certainly the sovereign LORD does nothing without first revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.
   8 A lion has roared! Who is not afraid? The sovereign LORD has spoken! Who can refuse to prophesy?

Samaria Will Fall

   9 Make this announcement in the fortresses of Ashdod and in the fortresses in the land of Egypt. Say this: "Gather on the hills around Samaria! Observe the many acts of violence taking place within the city, the oppressive deeds occurring in it."
   10 "They do not know how to do what is right." (The LORD is speaking.) "They store up the spoils of destructive violence in their fortresses.
   11 Therefore," says the sovereign LORD, "an enemy will encircle the land. He will take away your power; your fortresses will be looted."
   12 This is what the LORD says: "Just as a shepherd salvages from the lion's mouth a couple of leg bones or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites who live in Samaria will be salvaged. They will be left with just a corner of a bed, and a part of a couch."
   13 Listen and warn the family of Jacob! The sovereign LORD, the God who commands armies, is speaking!
   14 "Certainly when I punish Israel for their covenant transgressions, I will destroy Bethel's altars. The horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.
   15 I will destroy both the winter and summer houses. The houses filled with ivory will be ruined, the great houses will be swept away." The LORD is speaking!

King James Version

   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 only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
   3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
   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 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 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 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
   8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
   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 For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.
   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 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 Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,
   14 That 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.
   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.