Study Desk

The words of Amos, who was one of the sheep breeders^[a](a) from Tekoa^(b)—what he saw regarding Israel in the days of Uzziah,^(c) king of Judah, and Jeroboam^(d) son of Jehoash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.^(e)

He said: The Lord roars^(f) from Zion and raises His voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn,^[b](g) and the summit of Carmel^(h) withers.

The Lord says: I will not relent from punishing Damascus⁽ⁱ⁾ for three crimes, even four,^(j) because they threshed Gilead with iron sledges.

Therefore, I will send fire against Hazael's palace, and it will consume Ben-hadad's^(k) citadels.

I will break down the gates^[c](l) of Damascus. I will cut off the ruler from the Valley of Aven, and the one who wields the scepter from Beth-eden. The people of Aram will be exiled to Kir.^(m) The Lord has spoken.

The Lord says: I will not relent from punishing Gaza⁽ⁿ⁾ for three crimes, even four, because they exiled a whole community, handing them over to Edom.

Therefore, I will send fire against the walls of Gaza, and it will consume its citadels.

I will cut off the ruler from Ashdod,^(o) and the one who wields the scepter from Ashkelon.^(p) I will also turn My hand against Ekron, and the remainder of the Philistines^(q) will perish. The Lord God has spoken.

The Lord says: I will not relent from punishing Tyre^(r) for three crimes, even four, because they handed over a whole community of exiles to Edom and broke^[d] a treaty of brotherhood.^(s)

Therefore, I will send fire^(t) against the walls of Tyre, and it will consume its citadels.

The Lord says: I will not relent from punishing Edom^(u) for three crimes, even four, because he pursued his brother with the sword.^(v) He stifled his compassion, his anger tore at them^(w) continually, and he harbored his rage incessantly.

Therefore, I will send fire against Teman,^(x) and it will consume the citadels of Bozrah.

The Lord says: I will not relent from punishing the Ammonites^(y) for three crimes, even four, because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead^(z) in order to enlarge their territory.^(aa)

Therefore, I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah,^(ab) and it will consume its citadels. There will be shouting on the day of battle^(ac) and a violent wind on the day of the storm.^(ad)

Their king and his princes will go into exile together.^(ae) The Lord has spoken.

The Lord says: I will not relent from punishing Moab^(a) for three crimes, even four, because he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime.^(b)

Therefore, I will send fire against Moab, and it will consume the citadels of Kerioth.^(c) Moab will die with a tumult,^(d) with shouting and the sound of the ram's horn.

I will cut off the judge^(e) from the land and kill all its officials^(f) with him. The Lord has spoken.

The Lord says: I will not relent from punishing Judah^(g) for three crimes, even four, because they have rejected the instruction of the Lord ^(h) and have not kept His statutes.⁽ⁱ⁾ The lies^(j) that their ancestors followed^(k) have led them astray.

Therefore, I will send fire^(l) against Judah, and it will consume the citadels of Jerusalem.

The Lord says: I will not relent from punishing Israel^(m) for three crimes, even four, because they sell a righteous person for silver and a needy person for a pair of sandals.⁽ⁿ⁾

They trample the heads of the poor^(o) on the dust of the ground and block the path of the needy.^(p) A man and his father have sexual relations with the same girl,^(q) profaning My holy name.^(r)

They stretch out beside every altar^(s) on garments taken as collateral,^(t) and in the house of their God, they drink wine obtained through fines.^(u)

Yet I destroyed the Amorite^(v) as Israel advanced; his height^(w) was like the cedars, and he was as sturdy as the oaks; I destroyed his fruit^(x) above and his roots beneath.

And I brought you from the land of Egypt^(y) and led you 40 years in the wilderness^(z) in order to possess the land of the Amorite.^(aa)

I raised up some of your sons as prophets^(ab) and some of your young men as Nazirites.^(ac) Is this not the case, Israelites? This is the Lord 's declaration.

But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets, "Do not prophesy."^(ad)

Look, I am about to crush^[a] you in your place^(ae) as a wagon full of sheaves crushes grain.

Escape will fail the swift,^(af) the strong one will not prevail by his strength,^(ag) and the brave will not save his life.

The archer will not stand his ground,^(ah) the one who is swift of foot will not save himself, and the one riding a horse will not save his life.^(ai)

Even the most courageous of the warriors will flee naked on that day^(aj)— this is the Lord 's declaration.

Listen to this message that the Lord has spoken against you, Israelites, against the entire clan that I brought from the land of Egypt:^(a)

I have known only you^(b) out of all the clans of the earth; therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities.^(c)

Can two walk together^(d) without agreeing to meet?^[a]

Does a lion roar^(e) in the forest when it has no prey? Does a young lion growl from its lair unless it has captured something?

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?

If a ram's horn^(f) is blown in a city, aren't people afraid?^(g) If a disaster^(h) occurs in a city, hasn't the Lord done it?⁽ⁱ⁾

Indeed, the Lord God does nothing without revealing His counsel to His servants the prophets.^(j)

A lion has roared;^(k) who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken;^(l) who will not prophesy?^(m)

Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod⁽ⁿ⁾ and on the citadels in the land of Egypt: Assemble on the mountains of Samaria^(o) and see the great turmoil in the city and the acts of oppression within it.^(p)

The people are incapable of doing right^(q)— this is the Lord 's declaration— those who store up violence and destruction^(r) in their citadels.

Therefore, the Lord God says: An enemy^(s) will surround the land; he will destroy^(t) your strongholds and plunder your citadels.^(u)

The Lord says: As the shepherd snatches two legs or a piece of an ear from the lion's mouth,^(v) so the Israelites who live in Samaria will be rescued with only the corner of a bed^(w) or the^[b] cushion^[c] of a couch.^[d](x)

Listen and testify^(y) against the house of Jacob— this is the declaration of the Lord God , the God of Hosts.

I will punish the altars of Bethel^(z) on the day I punish Israel for its crimes; the horns of the altar^(aa) will be cut off and fall to the ground.^(ab)

I will demolish the winter house^(ac) and the summer house;^(ad) the houses inlaid with ivory^(ae) will be destroyed, and the great houses^(af) will come to an end. This is the Lord 's declaration.