Amaziah and Amos

10 Then Amaziah, chief priest of Bethel sent this message to King Jeroboam of Israel: ‘Amos has conspired against you right in the heart of Israel. The country cannot survive all his words. 11 Amos has said, “Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will be led away captive out of their land.”’

12 And Amaziah said to Amos, ‘Leave, you who see visions, go to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and prophesy there, 13 but don’t prophesy any more at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is the royal residence.’

14 ‘I am no prophet,’ Amos answered Amaziah, ‘nor trained as one. I am a shepherd and a keeper of sycamores fig trees. 15 But the Lord took me away from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, “Go, prophesy to my people Israel.” 16 Now therefore listen to the Lord’s message:

“You say not to prophesy against Israel,

nor to preach against the house of Isaac.

17 But the Lord says:

Your wife will become a prostitute in the city,

your sons and your daughters will fall by the sword,

your land will be divided up,

you will die on unclean soil,

and Israel will be led away captive out of their land.”’