Open English Translation AMOS Chapter 2

2 This is what Yahweh says:

“Even if Moab was three or four sins below the threshold,

I wouldn’t turn away its punishment,

because he completely burnt up the bones of Edom’s king.[ref]

2 I’ll send fire on Moab,

and it will devour Keriot’s fortresses.

Moab will die in an uproar—

with shouting and the sound of the horn. 3 I’ll wipe out her judge,

≈ and I’ll kill all the leaders along with him,”

says Yahweh.

4 This is what Yahweh says:

“Even if Yehudah was three or four sins below the threshold,

I wouldn’t turn away its punishment,

because they rejected Yahweh’s instructions

≈ and didn’t keep his regulations.

Their lies caused them to go astray,

just like their ancestors had done. 5 I’ll send fire on Yehudah,

and it’ll devour Yerushalem’s fortresses.”

6 This is what Yahweh says:

“Even if Yisrael was three or four sins below the threshold,

I wouldn’t turn away its punishment,

because they sold the innocent for silver

≈ and the needy for a pair of sandals. 7 They trample the heads of the poor into the dust.

They just push the oppressed out of the way.

A man and his father go lie with the same girl

and so profane my sinless reputation. 8 They lie down beside every altar on clothes taken from the poor as pledges,

and in the house of their god they drink the wine of those who were fined.

9 Yet I destroyed the Amorites before them.

They were as tall as of cedars

and as strong as oaks.

Yet I destroyed their fruit up high

and their roots down below.[ref] 10 Also, I brought you all out of Egypt (Heb. Mitsrayim)

and led you forty years in the wilderness

so you all could possess the land of the Amorites.

11 I raised prophets up from among your sons

≈ and devoted Nazirites from your young men.

Isn’t that right, you Israelis?

This is Yahweh’s declaration.[ref]

12 But you all persuaded the Nazirites to drink wine[ref]

and ordered the prophets not to prophesy.

13 Listen, I’m going to make you lose your stability

just like a cart wobbles when it’s carrying a heavy load of grain.

14 Even fast people won’t be able to reach a safe place.

≈ The strong won’t have enough strength of their own,

≈ and the powerful won’t be able to save themselves.

15 The archer holding the bow will be forced to retreat.

Even the fast runner won’t be able to escape.

The horse-rider won’t escape with his life.

16 Even the bravest warriors will flee naked that day.

That is Yahweh’s declaration.