Amos 3

1Hear this word that Jehovah hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt, saying,

1Listen to this message that the LORD has spoken against you, people of Israel—against the entire family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt:

2You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will visit upon you all your iniquities.

2Out of all the families on earth, I have chosen only you; therefore, I will punish you for all your sins.

3Shall two walk together, except they have agreed?

3Do two people walk together unless they have agreed to meet?

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?

4Does a lion roar in the forest if it has no prey? Does a young lion growl in its den if it hasn't caught anything?

5Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is set for him? shall a snare spring up from the ground, and have taken nothing at all?

5Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground if no bait has been set for it? Does a trap spring up from the earth if it has caught nothing at all?

6Shall the trumpet be blown in a city, and the people not be afraid? shall evil befall a city, and Jehovah hath not done it?

6When a trumpet sounds an alarm in a city, don't the people tremble? If a disaster happens in a city, hasn't the LORD caused it?

7Surely the Lord Jehovah will do nothing, except he reveal his secret unto his servants the prophets.

7Indeed, the Sovereign LORD does nothing without first revealing his secret plan to his servants the prophets.

8The lion hath roared; who will not fear? The Lord Jehovah hath spoken; who can but prophesy?

8The lion has roared—who won't be afraid? The Sovereign LORD has spoken—who can help but prophesy?

9Publish ye 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 what great tumults are therein, and what oppressions in the midst thereof.

9Announce this to the fortresses in Ashdod and to the fortresses in the land of Egypt: 'Gather yourselves on the mountains of Samaria; see the great chaos and the oppression happening there.'

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

10'They don't know how to do what is right,' declares the LORD, 'those who fill their fortresses with violence and looted goods.'

11Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: An adversary there shall be, even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be plundered.

11Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: 'An enemy will surround the land; he will pull down your defenses and plunder your fortresses.'

12Thus saith Jehovah: As the shepherd rescueth out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be rescued that sit in Samaria in the corner of a couch, and on the silken cushions of a bed.

12This is what the LORD says: 'Just as a shepherd rescues only two leg bones or a piece of an ear from a lion’s mouth, so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued—those who sit on the corners of their beds and on the silken cushions of their couches.'

13Hear ye, and testify against the house of Jacob, saith the Lord Jehovah, the God of hosts.

13'Listen and testify against the descendants of Jacob,' declares the Lord GOD, the God of Heaven’s Armies.

14For 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.

14'On the day I punish Israel for its sins, I will also destroy the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.'

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 Jehovah.

15'I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed, and the great mansions will come to an end,' declares the LORD.