\NormalFont\ShortTitle{Amos}
{\MT Amos

\par }\ChapOne{1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}The
message
of
Amos,
one
of
the
sheep breeders
of
Tekoa,
which
he
saw
concerning
Israel
in
the
reign
of
King
Uzziah
of
Judah,
and
in
the
reign
of
Jeroboam
the
son
of
King
Joash
of
Israel,
two
years
before
the
earthquake.
\VS{2}Amos
said:
\par }{\Q Whenever
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
roars
from
Zion,
\par }{\Q and
utters
his
voice
from
Jerusalem,
\par }{\Q the
pastures
of
the
shepherds
dry
up,
\par }{\Q the
top
of
Carmel
becomes arid.
\par }{\SH God’s
Judgment
on
Israel’s
Neighbours
\par }{\Q \VS{3}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
says:
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q For Damascus’
three
crimes –
no,
four! –
\par }{\Q I
will
not rescind
my
judgment.
\par }{\Q They
have
threshed
Gilead
\par }{\Q with
threshing
instruments
of
iron.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}Therefore
I
will
send
fire
on
Hazael’s
house,
\par }{\Q it
will
devour
the
palaces
of
Ben-hadad.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}I
will
break
open
the
gate
of
Damascus,
\par }{\Q I
will
wipe
out
those
who
live
in
the
valley
of
Aven
\par }{\Q and
the sceptred
ruler
of
Beth-Eden.
\par }{\Q The
people
of
Aram
will
go
into
captivity
in
Kir,
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{6}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
says:
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q For
Gaza’s
three
crimes –
no,
four! –
\par }{\Q I
will
not rescind
my
judgment.
\par }{\Q They
carried
away
captive
a
whole
nation,
\par }{\Q sold
them
as
slaves
to
Edom.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}Therefore
I
will
send
fire
on
the
wall
of
Gaza,
\par }{\Q and
it
shall
devour
her
palaces.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}And
I
will
wipe
out
those
who
live
in
Ashdod,
\par }{\Q and
the sceptred
ruler
of
Askelon.
\par }{\Q I
will
turn
my
hand
against
Ekron,
\par }{\Q and
the
remnant
of
the
Philistines
will
perish,
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{9}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
says:
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q For Tyre’s
three
crimes –
no,
four! –
\par }{\Q I
will
not rescind
my
judgment.
\par }{\Q They
carried
away
captive
a
whole
people
into
exile
in
Edom,
\par }{\Q and
did
not
remember
the
brotherly
covenant.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}So
I
will
send
fire
on
the
walls
of
Tyre.
\par }{\Q It
will
devour
her
palaces.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
says:
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q For
Edom’s
three
crimes –
no,
four! –
\par }{\Q I
will
not rescind
my
judgment.
\par }{\Q They
pursued
their
relatives
with
the
sword,
\par }{\Q stilled
their
pity,
\par }{\Q cherished
their
anger
continually,
\par }{\Q retained
their
fury
forever.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}So
I
will
send
a
fire
into
Teman.
\par }{\Q It
will
destroy
the
palaces
of
Bozrah.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{13}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
says:
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q For Ammonites’
three
crimes –
no,
four! –
\par }{\Q I
will
not rescind
my
judgment.
\par }{\Q They
have
ripped
open
pregnant
women
in
Gilead,
\par }{\Q in
their
lust
for
land.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}So
I
will
kindle
a
fire
on
the
wall
of
Rabbah.
\par }{\Q It
will
destroy
her
palaces,
\par }{\Q with
a war-cry
in
the
day
of
battle,
\par }{\Q with
a
tempest
in
the
day
of
the
whirlwind.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}Their
king
will
go
into
exile,
\par }{\Q he
and
his
nobles
together,
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\BB \par }
\PoetryChap{2}{\Q \VerseOne{1}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
says:
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q For
Moab’s
three
crimes –
no,
four! –
\par }{\Q I
will
not rescind
my
judgment.
\par }{\Q They
have
burned
to
lime
the
bones
of
the
king
of
Edom,
\par }{\Q \VS{2}to
desecrate
the
dead.
\par }{\Q So
I
will
send
a
fire
into
Moab.
\par }{\Q It
will
devour
the
palaces
of Kirioth,
\par }{\Q with
a war-cry,
\par }{\Q with
the
sound
of
trumpets.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}I
will
kill
the
ruler,
\par }{\Q all
his
nobles
I
will
slay
with
him,
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{4}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
says:
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q For
Judah’s
three
crimes –
no,
four! –
\par }{\Q I
will
not rescind
my
judgment.
\par }{\Q They
have
rejected
the
law
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
\par }{\Q and
have
not
kept
his
statutes.
\par }{\Q Instead
their
false
gods
their
ancestors
followed,
\par }{\Q have
led
them
astray.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}So
I
will
send
a
fire
on
Judah.
\par }{\Q It
will
devour
the
palaces
of
Jerusalem.
\par }{\SH God’s
Judgment
on
Israel
\par }{\Q \VS{6}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
says:
\par }{\Q For
Israel’s
three
crimes –
no,
four! –
\par }{\Q I
will
not rescind
my
judgment.
\par }{\Q They
sell
the
righteous
for
money,
\par }{\Q the
needy
for
a
pair
of
shoes.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}They
trample
on
the
head
of
the
poor,
\par }{\Q push
the
humble
out
of
the
way.
\par }{\Q Father
and
son
go
to
the
same
temple
girl,
\par }{\Q and
so
profane
my
holy
name.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}They
stretch
themselves
\par }{\Q on
garments
taken
in
pledges
beside
every
altar,
\par }{\Q and
they
drink
the
wine
\par }{\Q of
those
who
have
been
fined
in
the
house
of
their
God.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{9}It
was
I
who
destroyed
the
Amorites
for
your
sake,
\par }{\Q whose
height
was
like
that
of
the
cedars,
\par }{\Q as
strong
as
oaks.
\par }{\Q I
destroyed
their
fruit
from
above
\par }{\Q and
their
roots
from
below.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}It
was
I
who
brought
you
up
from
the
land
of
Egypt,
\par }{\Q led
you
forty
years
in
the
wilderness,
\par }{\Q brought
you
here
to
possess
the
land
of
the
Amorites.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}I
raised
up
some
of
your
sons
to
be
prophets
\par }{\Q some
of
your
youths
to
be
Nazirites.
\par }{\Q Is
not
this
indeed
so,
Israelites?
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}But
you
made
the
Nazirites
drink
wine
\par }{\Q and
banned
the
prophets
from
prophesying.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{13}Listen!
\par }{\Q It
is
I
who
will
make
you
groan
in
your
places,
\par }{\Q as
a
wagon
groans
under
its
load
of
grain.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{14}Then
flight
will
fail
the
swift,
\par }{\Q and
the
strength
of
the
strongest
will
be
useless.
\par }{\Q The
warrior
will
not
save
his
life,
\par }{\Q \VS{15}the
archer
will
not
stand
firm,
\par }{\Q the
swift
of
foot
will
not
escape,
\par }{\Q the
horseman
will
not
save
his
life.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}The
bravest
of
warriors
\par }{\Q will
flee
away
naked
in
that
day,
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.

\par }\Chap{3}{\SH A Warning to Israel
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}Listen
to
this
message,
Israelites,
\par }{\Q which
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
has
spoken
against
you,
\par }{\Q against
the
whole
nation
that
I
brought
out
of
Egypt:
\par }{\Q \VS{2}You
alone
have
I
cared
for
of
all
the
nations
of
the
world,
\par }{\Q this
is
why
I
will
punish
you
for
your
crimes.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{3}Do
two
walk
together
\par }{\Q unless
they
agreed
to
meet?
\par }{\Q \VS{4}Does
a
lion
roar
in
the
forest
\par }{\Q when
there
is
no
prey
for
him?
\par }{\Q Does
a
young
lion
cry
out
in
his
den
\par }{\Q unless
he
has
caught
something?
\par }{\Q \VS{5}Does
a
bird
swoop
down
into
a
trap
\par }{\Q if
no
bait
is
set
for
it?
\par }{\Q Does
a
trap
spring
up
from
the
ground
\par }{\Q if
nothing
sets
it
off?
\par }{\Q \VS{6}Can
a
trumpet
be
blown
in
a
city
\par }{\Q and
the
people
not
tremble?
\par }{\Q Can
disaster
strike
a
city
\par }{\Q and
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
not
have
caused
it?
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}Surely
the
Lord
{\ND{
God}}
does
nothing
\par }{\Q without
revealing
his
purpose
to
his
servants
the
prophets.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}The
lion
has
roared;
who
does
not
fear?
\par }{\Q The
Lord
{\ND{
God}}
has
spoken;
who
will
not
prophesy?
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{9}Proclaim
over
the
palaces
in
Ashdod,
\par }{\Q and
over
the
palaces
in
the
land
of
Egypt:
\par }{\Q Gather
upon
the
mountain
of
Samaria,
\par }{\Q and
see
the
violent
turmoil,
\par }{\Q the
acts
of
oppression
in
her
midst.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}For
they
do
not
know
how
to
do
right.
\par }{\Q They
are heaping
up
violence
\par }{\Q and
oppression
in
their
palaces,
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}Therefore
the
Lord
{\ND{
God}}
says:
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q An
enemy
will
surround
the
land,
\par }{\Q he
will
strip
your
strength
from
you.
\par }{\Q and
your
palaces
will
be
looted.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{12}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
says:
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q Just
as
a
shepherd
rescues
from
the
jaws
of
a
lion
\par }{\Q two shinbones
or
a
piece
of
an
ear,
\par }{\Q so
the
Israelites
living
in Sameria
will
be
rescued –
\par }{\Q with
the
corner
of
a
couch,
\par }{\Q and
the damask
of
a divan!
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{13}Listen
and
testify
against
the
house
of
Jacob,
\par }{\Q says
the
Lord
{\ND{
God}},
the
God
of
hosts.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}On
the
day
when
I
punish
Israel
for
their
crimes,
\par }{\Q I
will
also
visit
in
judgment
the
altars
of
Bethel,
\par }{\Q the
horns
of
the
altar
will
be
hacked
off,
\par }{\Q and
they
will
fall
to
the
ground.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}I
will
destroy
the
winter
houses
\par }{\Q together
with
the
summer
houses
\par }{\Q and
the
houses
of
ivory
will
perish.
\par }{\Q Many
great
houses
will
be
swept
away,
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\BB \par }
\PoetryChap{4}{\Q \VerseOne{1}Listen
to
this
message,
women
of Sameria,
\par }{\Q you
well-fed
cows
of
Bashan,
\par }{\Q who
oppress
the
poor
and
crush
the
needy,
\par }{\Q who
say
to
your
husbands, ‘Bring
us
another
drink!’
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{2}The
Lord
{\ND{
God}}
has
sworn
by
his
holiness:
\par }{\Q The
time
is
coming
when
you
will
be
carried
away
in
baskets,
\par }{\Q your
children
carried
away
in fish-baskets,
\par }{\Q \VS{3}and
through
the
breaches
in
the
city
wall
you
will
go,
\par }{\Q thrown
out
on
the garbage
dump,
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{4}Come
to
Bethel
and
transgress,
\par }{\Q at Gilgald
increase
your
transgression.
\par }{\Q Bring
your
sacrifices
in
the
morning,
\par }{\Q every
third
day
your
tithes!
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{5}Burn
some
leavened
bread
as
a thank-offering,
\par }{\Q proclaim
aloud
your
voluntary
offerings,
\par }{\Q for
you
love
to
do
this,
Israelites!
\par }{\Q says
the
Lord
{\ND{
God}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{6}But
it
was
I
who
gave
to
you
\par }{\Q empty
stomachs
in
all
your
cities,
\par }{\Q and
lack
of
bread
in
all
your
towns,
\par }{\Q yet
you
have
not
returned
to
me,
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}It
was
I
who
withheld
from
you
the
rain,
\par }{\Q sending
rain
on
one
city,
\par }{\Q while
on
another
I
allowed
no
rain.
\par }{\Q One
field
received
rain,
\par }{\Q while
a
field
without
rain
withered.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}People
from
two
or
three
cities
\par }{\Q ranged
as
far
as
another
city
\par }{\Q for
drinking
water,
\par }{\Q and
still
they
did
not
have
enough,
\par }{\Q yet
you
did
not
return
to
me,
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{9}I
struck
you
with
blight
and
mildew,
\par }{\Q I
laid
waste
your
gardens
and
vineyards.
\par }{\Q The
swarming
locust
devoured
your
fig
and
your
olive
trees,
\par }{\Q yet
you
did
not
return
to
me,
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}I
sent
plague
among
you
like
the
plagues
of
Egypt,
\par }{\Q I
slew
your
youths
with
the
sword,
your
horses
raided
away,
\par }{\Q I
caused
the
stench
of
your
camps
to
rise
in
your
nostrils,
\par }{\Q yet
you
did
not
return
to
me,
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}I
wrought
a
destruction
among
you,
\par }{\Q as
God
destroyed
Sodom
and
Gomorrah.
\par }{\Q You
were
like
a
stick
snatched
from
the
fire,
\par }{\Q yet
you
did
not
return
to
me,
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{12}Therefore
this
is
what
I
will
do
to
you,
Israel,
\par }{\Q and
because
I
am
about
to
do
this
to
you,
\par }{\Q prepare
to
meet
your
God,
Israel.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{13}He
is
here!
\par }{\Q He
who
forms
the
mountains,
\par }{\Q creates
the
wind,
\par }{\Q declares
to
his
thoughts
to
mortals,
\par }{\Q makes
dawn
and
darkness,
\par }{\Q treads
upon
the
heights
of
the
earth,
\par }{\Q the
{\ND{
Lord}},
the
God
of
hosts,
is
his
name!

\par }\Chap{5}{\SH A Funeral Song for Israel
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}Listen
to
the
words
of
the funeral
song
\par }{\Q I
am
singing
for
you,
Israel:
\par }{\Q \VS{2}Fallen,
no
more
to
rise,
is
the
virgin
Israel!
\par }{\Q Hurled
down
upon
her
own
soil
she
lies,
\par }{\Q with
no
one
to
lift
her
up!
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{3}For
the
Lord
{\ND{
God}}
says
this:
\par }{\Q The
city
that
marches
out
with
a
thousand
soldiers
\par }{\Q has
only
a
hundred
left,
\par }{\Q and
the
one
that
marches
out
with
a
hundred
\par }{\Q has
only
ten
left.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{4}For
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
says
this
to
Israel:
\par }{\Q Seek
me
and
live,
\par }{\Q \VS{5}But
do
not
seek
Bethel,
\par }{\Q do
not
enter
Gilgal,
\par }{\Q do
not
go
over
to
Beer-sheba.
\par }{\Q For
Gilgal
will
enter
exile,
\par }{\Q and
Bethel
will
go
to
destruction.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{6}Seek
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
and
live,
\par }{\Q or
he
will
cast
fire
on
the
house
of
Joseph,
\par }{\Q and
it
will
devour
\par }{\Q and
there
will
be
no
one
to
quench
it
for
Bethel.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}You
who
turn
judgment
to
bitter
wormwood,
\par }{\Q and
cast
righteousness
into
the
dirt:
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{8}He
who
made
the
Pleiades
and
Orion,
\par }{\Q who
turns
deep
darkness
into
dawn,
\par }{\Q who
darkens
day
again
into
night,
\par }{\Q who
summons
the
waters
of
the
sea,
\par }{\Q and
pours
them
out
on
the
earth’s
surface,
\par }{\Q the
{\ND{
Lord}}
is
his
name!
\par }{\Q \VS{9}He
causes
destruction
to
burst
over
the
strong.
\par }{\Q He
brings
devastation
on
the
fortress.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}You
who
hate
the arbiters
at
the
city
gate,
\par }{\Q and
abhor
anyone
who
speaks
the
truth:
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}Because
you
trample
on
the
weak,
\par }{\Q and
tax
their
grain,
\par }{\Q although
you
have
built
houses
of
hewn
stone,
\par }{\Q you
will
not
live
in
them,
\par }{\Q although
you
have
planted
charming
vineyards,
\par }{\Q you
will
not
drink
their
wine.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}For
I
know
how
many
are
your
crimes,
\par }{\Q and
how
great
are
your
sins!
\par }{\Q You
persecutors
of
the
righteous, takers
of
bribes!
\par }{\Q You
deny
the
poor
their
justice
at
the
city
gate.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{13}It
would
be
wise
to
keep
quiet
in
such
an
evil
time.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{14}Seek
good
and
not
evil,
\par }{\Q that
you
may
live,
\par }{\Q so
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
God
of
hosts,
\par }{\Q may
be
with
you,
as
you
have
claimed
he
is.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{15}Hate
evil
and
love
good,
\par }{\Q establish
justice
at
the
city
gate.
\par }{\Q Perhaps
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
the
God
of
hosts,
\par }{\Q will
be
gracious
to
a
surviving
remnant
of
Joseph.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{16}Therefore
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
the
God
of
hosts,
says:
\par }{\Q In
all
the
public
squares
there
will
be
wailing,
\par }{\Q in
every
street
the
sound
of
mourning.
\par }{\Q They
will
summon
the
farmers
to
mourning,
\par }{\Q and
professional
mourners
to
wailing.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}In
all
vineyards
there
will
be
lamenting,
\par }{\Q when
I
pass
through
your
midst,
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{18}Fools
who
long
for
the
day
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}!
\par }{\Q What
does
the
day
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
mean
to
you?
\par }{\Q It
is
darkness,
and
not
light.
\par }{\Q \VS{19}It
is
as
when
one
flees
from
a
lion,
\par }{\Q and
is
attacked
by
a
bear,
\par }{\Q as
when
one
reaches
home,
leans
his
hand
on
the
wall,
\par }{\Q and
a
snake
bites
him.
\par }{\Q \VS{20}Won’t
the
{\ND{
Lord}}’s
day
be
darkness
and
not
light,
\par }{\Q murky
darkness
without
a ray
of
light
in
it?
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{21}I
hate,
I
despise
your
feasts,
\par }{\Q I
will
not
smell
the
savour
of
your
festivals,
\par }{\Q \VS{22}I
will
not
be
pleased
with
your
burnt
offerings,
\par }{\Q your
grain
offerings,
\par }{\Q I
will
not
accept
the
peace
offerings
\par }{\Q of
your
fattened
calves.
\par }{\Q \VS{23}Spare
me
the
noise
of
your
songs,
\par }{\Q I
will
not
listen
to
the
melody
of
your
lyres.
\par }{\Q \VS{24}But
let
justice
roll
on
as
a
flood
of
waters,
\par }{\Q and
righteousness
like
an unfailing
stream.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{25}Was
it
only
sacrifices
and
grain
offerings
\par }{\Q you
brought
me
\par }{\Q during
the
forty
years
in
the
wilderness,
Israel?
\par }{\Q \VS{26}But
now
you
will
lift
up
your “king”
Sikkuth
\par }{\Q and “star
god”
Kiyyun,
\par }{\Q your
idols
which
you
have
made
for
yourselves,
\par }{\Q \VS{27}as
I
drive
you
into
exile
beyond
Damascus,
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
whose
name
is
the
God
of
hosts.
\par }{\BB \par }
\Chap{6}{\SH The Destruction of Israel
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}Sorrow
awaits
who
are
carefree
in
Zion,
\par }{\Q overconfident
on
the
mountain
of
Samaria!
\par }{\Q The
elite
of
this,
the
best
of
nations,
\par }{\Q on
whom
the
people
of
Israel
rest
their
hopes!
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{2}You
say
to
the
people:
\par }{\Q Cross
over
to
Calneh
and
see,
\par }{\Q go
from
there
to
Hamath
the
great,
\par }{\Q then
go
down
to
Gath
of
the
Philistines:
\par }{\Q Are
they
better
than
these
kingdoms?
\par }{\Q Is
their
territory
larger
than
yours?
\par }{\Q \VS{3}You
push
away
all
thoughts
of
the
evil
day,
\par }{\Q yet
have
instituted
a
rule
of
violence.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{4}They
lie
on
ivory
couches,
\par }{\Q sprawl
on
their divans,
\par }{\Q eat
choice
lambs
from
the
flock,
\par }{\Q and
fattened
calves
from
the
stall.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}They
idly
sing
to
the
sound
of
the
lyre,
\par }{\Q thinking
themselves songwriters
like
David,
\par }{\Q \VS{6}they
drink bowlfuls
of
wine,
\par }{\Q and
anoint
themselves
with
the
finest
of
oil.
\par }{\Q But
they
do
not
grieve
over
the
ruin
of
Joseph.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}Therefore
now
they
must
go
into
exile
\par }{\Q at
the
head
of
the
captives,
\par }{\Q and
hushed
will
be
the revelry
of
the sprawlers.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{8}The
Lord
{\ND{
God}},
\par }{\Q the
{\ND{
Lord}},
the
God
of
hosts,
has
sworn
by
himself:
\par }{\Q I
abhor
the
pride
of
Jacob,
\par }{\Q I
hate
his
palaces,
\par }{\Q therefore
I
will
deliver
up
the
city
\par }{\Q and
all
that
is
in
it
to
their
enemies.
\par }{\PP \VS{9}If
ten
people
remain
in
one
house,
then
they
will
die.
\VS{10}When
the
uncle
and
another
member
of
the
family
of
a
dead
man
come
to
carry
the
body
out
of
the
house
for
burial,
they
will
call
to
someone
in
a
corner
of
the
house, “Any
more
there?”
and
he
will
answer, “No”,
and
then
he
will
add, “Be
quiet!” –
for
the
name
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
must
not
be
mentioned.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}Look!
The
{\ND{
Lord}}
is
giving
the
command!
\par }{\Q He
will
smash
the
large
house
to
bits,
\par }{\Q the
small
house
into
fragments.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{12}Do
horses
gallop
on
crags?
\par }{\Q Does
one plough
the
sea
with
oxen?
\par }{\Q Yet
you
turn
justice
into
poison weed,
\par }{\Q and
the
fruit
of
righteousness
into
bitter
wormwood.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{13}You
who
are
so
proud
\par }{\Q of capturing
Lo-debar,
\par }{\Q who
say, “Have
we
not
by
our
own
strength
\par }{\Q taken
Karnaim
for
ourselves?”
\par }{\Q \VS{14}I
am
now
raising
up
against
you,
\par }{\Q Israel,
a
nation,
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
the
God
of
hosts.
\par }{\Q They
will
oppress
you,
\par }{\Q from
the
entrance
of
Hamath
\par }{\Q to
the
brook
of
the
Arabah.

\par }\Chap{7}{\SH A Vision of Locusts
\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}This
is
what
the
Lord
{\ND{
God}}
showed
me:
he
was
forming
a
swarm
of
locusts,
when
the
late
spring
grass
began
to
come
up
after
the
king’s
share
had
been
harvested.
\VS{2}And
when
they
had
finished
devouring
all
the land’s
vegetation,
I
said:
\par }{\Q ‘Lord
{\ND{
God}},
forgive,
I
beg
you!
\par }{\Q How
can
Jacob
survive,
\par }{\Q for
he
is
so
helpless?’
\par }{\PP \VS{3}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
relented.
This
will
not
happen,’
said
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\SH A
Vision
of
Fire
\par }{\PP \VS{4}This
is
what
he
showed
me:
the
Lord
{\ND{
God}}
was
giving
command
to
execute
judgment
by
fire.
It
burned
up
the
great
deep,
and
had
begun
to
devour
the
fields,
and
I
said:
\par }{\Q \VS{5}‘Lord
{\ND{
God}},
forgive,
I
beg
you!
\par }{\Q How
can
Jacob
survive,
\par }{\Q for
he
is
so
helpless?’
\par }{\PP \VS{6}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
relented. ‘This
will
not
happen
either,’
said
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\SH A
Vision
of
a
Plumb
Line
\par }{\PP \VS{7}This
is
what
the
Lord
{\ND{
God}}
showed
me:
the
Lord
was
standing
beside
a
wall
built
with
a
plumb
line,
with
a
plumb
line
in
his
hand.
\VS{8}And
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
said
to
me,
\par }{\Q ‘What
do
you
see,
Amos?’
\par }{\PP And
I
answered,
\par }{\Q ‘A
plumb
line,’
\par }{\PP Then
the
Lord
said,
\par }{\Q ‘Watch:
I
am
setting
a
plumb
line
\par }{\Q in
the
midst
of
my
people
Israel,
\par }{\Q I
will
no
longer
overlook
their
crookedness.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}And
the
high
places
of
Isaac
\par }{\Q will
be
desolate,
\par }{\Q the
sanctuaries
of
Israel
\par }{\Q will
be
laid
waste,
\par }{\Q and
I
will
rise
up
against
the
house
of
Jeroboam
\par }{\Q with
the
sword.’
\par }{\SH Amaziah
and
Amos
\par }{\PP \VS{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.
\VS{11}Amos
has
said, “Jeroboam
will
die
by
the
sword,
and
Israel
will
be
led
away
captive
out
of
their
land.” ’
\par }{\PP \VS{12}And
Amaziah
said
to
Amos, ‘Leave,
you
who
see
visions,
go
to
the
land
of
Judah. Earn
your
bread
there
and
prophesy
there,
\VS{13}but
don’t
prophesy
any
more
at
Bethel,
for
it
is
the
king’s
sanctuary,
and
it
is
the
royal
residence.’
\par }{\PP \VS{14}‘I
am
no
prophet,’
Amos
answered
Amaziah, ‘nor
trained
as
one.
I
am
a
shepherd
and
a
keeper
of
sycamores
fig
trees.
\VS{15}But
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
took
me
away
from
following
the
flock,
and
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
said
to
me, “Go,
prophesy
to
my
people
Israel.”
\VS{16}Now
therefore
listen
to
the
{\ND{
Lord}}’s
message:
\par }{\Q “You
say
not
to
prophesy
against
Israel,
\par }{\Q nor
to
preach
against
the
house
of
Isaac.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}But
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
says:
\par }{\Q Your
wife
will
become
a
prostitute
in
the
city,
\par }{\Q your
sons
and
your
daughters
will
fall
by
the
sword,
\par }{\Q your
land
will
be
divided
up,
\par }{\Q you
will
die
on
unclean
soil,
\par }{\Q and
Israel
will
be
led
away
captive
out
of
their
land.” ’

\par }\Chap{8}{\SH The Time is Ripe
\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}The
Lord
{\ND{
God}}
showed
me
this:
a
basket
of
summer
fruit.
\VS{2}‘What
do
you
see,
Amos?’
he
asked.
I
replied, ‘A
basket
of
ripe
summer
fruit.’
Then
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
said
to
me:
\par }{\Q The
time
is
ripe
for
my
people
Israel,
\par }{\Q I
will
no
longer
overlook
their
crimes.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}The
singing
women
in
the
palace
will
howl
on
that
day,
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}:
\par }{\Q Corpses
everywhere,
\par }{\Q thrown
out
in
silence.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}Listen
to
this,
you
who
trample
on
the
needy,
\par }{\Q who
oppress
the
poor
of
the
earth,
\VS{5}saying:
\par }{\Q When
will
the
feast
of
the
new
moon
be
over
\par }{\Q so
that
we
may
sell
grain?
\par }{\Q And
the
sabbath
ended
\par }{\Q so
that
we
may
offer
wheat
for
sale?
\par }{\Q Reducing
the
measure
and
increasing
the
price,
\par }{\Q cheating
with
false
scales,
\par }{\Q \VS{6}mixing
the sweepings
in
with
the
wheat.
\par }{\Q Then
we
can
buy
the
poor
for
money,
\par }{\Q the
needy
for
a
pair
of
shoes.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}Now
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
has
taken
an
oath
\par }{\Q by
the
Pride
of
Jacob:
\par }{\Q I
will
never
forget
all
their
deeds!
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Because
of
this
won’t
the
land
quake,
\par }{\Q and
all
its
inhabitants
mourn?
\par }{\Q Won’t
the
whole
of
it
rise
like
the
Nile,
\par }{\Q churn
and
subside
like
the
Nile
in
Egypt?
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{9}On
that
day,
says
the
Lord
{\ND{
God}},
\par }{\Q I
will
make
the
sun
set
at
noon
\par }{\Q and
darken
the
earth
in
broad
daylight.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}I
will
turn
your
feasts
into
mourning,
\par }{\Q all
your
songs
into dirges.
\par }{\Q I
will
cause
you
to
dress
in
sackcloth,
\par }{\Q every
head
shaved.
\par }{\Q I
will
make
you
mourn
like
you
have
lost
your
only
son,
\par }{\Q all
that
happens
will
end
in
bitterness.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}The
day
is
coming,
says
the
Lord
{\ND{
God}},
\par }{\Q when
I
will
send
hunger
in
the
land.
\par }{\Q Not
a
famine
of
bread
or
thirst
for
water,
\par }{\Q but
for
hearing
the
message
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}Then
they
will
wander
from
sea
to
sea,
\par }{\Q from
the
north
to
the
east,
\par }{\Q to
seek
a
message
from
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
\par }{\Q but
they
will
not
find
it.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}In
that
day
beautiful
girls
and
strong
young
men
\par }{\Q will
faint
from
thirst.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{14}Those
who
take
oaths
by
the
shameful
idol
of
Samaria,
\par }{\Q who
swear, “As
surely
as
your
God
lives,
O
Dan!”
\par }{\Q and, “By
the
sacred
way
to
Beer-sheba!” –
\par }{\Q they
will
fall
and
never
rise
again.

\par }\Chap{9}{\PP \VerseOne{1}I
saw
the
Lord towering
above
the
altar,
and
he
commanded:
\par }{\Q Strike
the
tops
of
the
pillars
\par }{\Q so
that
the
foundations
may
shake,
\par }{\Q bring
them
down
on
the
heads
of
the
people
below.
\par }{\Q The
rest
of
them
I
will
slay
with
the
sword:
\par }{\Q no
one
will
get
away,
\par }{\Q no
one
will
escape.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{2}If
they
dig
down
to
Sheol,
\par }{\Q there
will
my
hand
take
them.
\par }{\Q If
they
climb
up
to
the
heavens,
\par }{\Q from
there
will
I
bring
them
down.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}If
they
hide
themselves
on
the
top
of
Carmel,
\par }{\Q there
will
I
search
them
out
and
take
them.
\par }{\Q If
they
hide
out
of
my
sight
at
the
bottom
of
the
sea,
\par }{\Q there
will
I
command
the
sea
serpent
to
bite
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}If
they
are
taken
into
captivity
by
their
enemies,
\par }{\Q there
will
I
command
the
sword
to
slay
them.
\par }{\Q I
will
keep
my
eye
on
them
\par }{\Q but
for
evil
and
not
for
good.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{5}It
is
the
Lord
the
{\ND{
God}}
of
hosts,
\par }{\Q who
touches
the
earth
and
it
trembles,
\par }{\Q all
who
live
on
it
mourn.
\par }{\Q The
earth
rises
up
like
the
Nile,
\par }{\Q and
sinks
like
the
Nile
of
Egypt.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}The
one
who
builds
in
the
heavens,
\par }{\Q who
sets
the
dome
of
the
sky
over
the
earth,
\par }{\Q who
summons
the
waters
of
the
sea
\par }{\Q and
pours
them
out
on
the
face
of
the
earth:
\par }{\Q the
{\ND{
Lord}}
is
his
name.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}To
me,
Israelites,
you
are
\par }{\Q just
like
the Cushites,
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\Q Yes,
I
brought
Israel
up
out
of
the
land
of
Egypt,
\par }{\Q but
also
the
Philistines
from
Caphtor,
\par }{\Q and
the
Arameans
from
Kir!
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Behold
the
eyes
of
the
Lord
{\ND{
God}}
\par }{\Q are
on
the
sinful
kingdom:
\par }{\Q I
will
destroy
it
from
the
face
of
the
earth!
\par }{\Q But
I
will
not
completely
destroy
the
house
of
Jacob,
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}For
behold
I
am
about
to
give
the
command,
\par }{\Q and
I
will
shake
the
house
of
Israel
among
all
the
nations
\par }{\Q just
as
one
shakes
grain
in
a
sieve,
\par }{\Q but
not
a pebble
shall
fall
to
the
ground.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}All
the
sinners
of
my
people,
\par }{\Q who
deny
that
disaster
will
touch
or
befall
them,
\par }{\Q will
die
by
the
sword.
\par }{\SH A
Promise
of Restoration
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}On
that
day
I
will
raise
up
the
fallen
house
of
David,
\par }{\Q I
will
wall
up
its
gaps
and
raise
up
its
ruins,
\par }{\Q I
will
rebuild
it
as
it
was
long
ago.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}They
will
possess
again
the
rest
of
Edom,
\par }{\Q and
all
the
nations
which
once
you
ruled
for
me,
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
who
will
do
this.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{13}Listen!
The
days
are
coming,
says
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
\par }{\Q when
the
harvest
is
too
big
to
reap
\par }{\Q before
it
is
time
to plough,
\par }{\Q when
the
grapes
cannot
be
all
trod
\par }{\Q before
it
is
time
to
sow,
\par }{\Q when
the
mountains
will
run
with
sweet
wine,
\par }{\Q and
every
hill
will
flow
with
it.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{14}I
will
bring
back
my
people
Israel,
\par }{\Q they
will
rebuild
waste
cities
and
inhabit
them,
\par }{\Q plant
vineyards
and
drink
their
wine,
\par }{\Q make
gardens
and
eat
their
fruit.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}I
will
plant
them
on
their
own
soil,
\par }{\Q and
they
will
never
again
be
uprooted
from
their
land
\par }{\Q which
I
have
given
them,
\par }{\Q says
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
your
God.
\par }