Amos 3:6-15 - Compare All Versions

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When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it? Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. The lion has roared— who will not fear? The Sovereign LORD has spoken— who can but prophesy? Proclaim to the fortresses of Ashdod and to the fortresses of Egypt: “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria; see the great unrest within her and the oppression among her people.” “They do not know how to do right,” declares the LORD, “who store up in their fortresses what they have plundered and looted.” Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “An enemy will overrun your land, pull down your strongholds and plunder your fortresses.” This is what the LORD says: “As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s mouth only two leg bones or a piece of an ear, so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued, with only the head of a bed and a piece of fabric from a couch.” “Hear this and testify against the descendants of Jacob,” declares the Lord, the LORD God Almighty. “On the day I punish Israel for her sins, I will destroy the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground. I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed and the mansions will be demolished,” declares the LORD.

Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the LORD has done it? “For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken; who can but prophesy?” Proclaim to the strongholds in Ashdod and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt, and say, “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria, and see the great tumults within her, and the oppressed in her midst.” “They do not know how to do right,” declares the LORD, “those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.” Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “An adversary shall surround the land and bring down your defenses from you, and your strongholds shall be plundered.” Thus says the LORD: “As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a bed. “Hear, and testify against the house of Jacob,” declares the Lord GOD, the God of hosts, “that on the day I punish Israel for his transgressions, I will punish the altars of Bethel, and the horns of the altar shall be cut off and fall to the ground. I will strike the winter house along with the summer house, and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall come to an end,” declares the LORD.

When the ram’s horn blows a warning, shouldn’t the people be alarmed? Does disaster come to a city unless the LORD has planned it? Indeed, the Sovereign LORD never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets. The lion has roared— so who isn’t frightened? The Sovereign LORD has spoken— so who can refuse to proclaim his message? Announce this to the leaders of Philistia and to the great ones of Egypt: “Take your seats now on the hills around Samaria, and witness the chaos and oppression in Israel.” “My people have forgotten how to do right,” says the LORD. “Their fortresses are filled with wealth taken by theft and violence. Therefore,” says the Sovereign LORD, “an enemy is coming! He will surround them and shatter their defenses. Then he will plunder all their fortresses.” This is what the LORD says: “A shepherd who tries to rescue a sheep from a lion’s mouth will recover only two legs or a piece of an ear. So it will be for the Israelites in Samaria lying on luxurious beds, and for the people of Damascus reclining on couches. “Now listen to this, and announce it throughout all Israel,” says the Lord, the LORD God of Heaven’s Armies. “On the very day I punish Israel for its sins, I will destroy the pagan altars at Bethel. The horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground. And I will destroy the beautiful homes of the wealthy— their winter mansions and their summer houses, too— all their palaces filled with ivory,” says the LORD.

If a ram’s horn  is blown in a city, aren’t people afraid?  If a disaster  occurs in a city, hasn’t the LORD done it?  Indeed, the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his counsel to his servants the prophets.  A lion has roared;  who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken;  who will not prophesy?  Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod  and on the citadels in the land of Egypt: Assemble on the mountains of Samaria,  and see the great turmoil in the city and the acts of oppression within it.  The people are incapable of doing right   — this is the  LORD’s declaration — those who store up violence and destruction  in their citadels. Therefore, the Lord GOD says: An enemy  will surround the land; he will destroy  your strongholds and plunder your citadels.  The LORD says: As the shepherd snatches two legs or a piece of an ear from the lion’s mouth,  so the Israelites who live in Samaria will be rescued with only the corner of a bed  or the  cushion  of a couch.  , Listen and testify  against the house of Jacob — this is the declaration of the Lord GOD, the God of Armies. I will punish the altars of Bethel  on the day I punish Israel for its crimes; the horns of the altar  will be cut off and fall to the ground.  I will demolish the winter house  and the summer house;  the houses inlaid with ivory  will be destroyed, and the great houses  will come to an end. This is the  LORD’s declaration.

Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy? Publish 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 the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof. For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled. Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch. Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts, that 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. And 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 the LORD.

If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it? Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy? “Proclaim in the palaces at Ashdod, And in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say: ‘Assemble on the mountains of Samaria; See great tumults in her midst, And the oppressed within her. For they do not know to do right,’ Says the LORD, ‘Who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.’ ” Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “An adversary shall be all around the land; He shall sap your strength from you, And your palaces shall be plundered.” Thus says the LORD: “As a shepherd takes from the mouth of a lion Two legs or a piece of an ear, So shall the children of Israel be taken out Who dwell in Samaria— In the corner of a bed and on the edge of a couch! Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,” Says the Lord GOD, the God of hosts, “That in the day I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will also visit destruction on the altars of Bethel; And the horns of the altar shall be cut off And fall to the ground. I will destroy the winter house along with the summer house; The houses of ivory shall perish, And the great houses shall have an end,” Says the LORD.

Do two people walk hand in hand if they aren’t going to the same place? Does a lion roar in the forest if there’s no carcass to devour? Does a young lion growl with pleasure if he hasn’t caught his supper? Does a bird fall to the ground if it hasn’t been hit with a stone? Does a trap spring shut if nothing trips it? When the alarm goes off in the city, aren’t people alarmed? And when disaster strikes the city, doesn’t GOD stand behind it? The fact is, GOD, the Master, does nothing without first telling his prophets the whole story. The lion has roared— who isn’t frightened? GOD has spoken— what prophet can keep quiet? * * * Announce to the forts of Assyria, announce to the forts of Egypt— Tell them, “Gather on the Samaritan mountains, take a good, hard look: what a snake pit of brutality and terror! They can’t—or won’t—do one thing right.” GOD said so. “They stockpile violence and blight. Therefore”—this is GOD’s Word—“an enemy will surround the country. He’ll strip you of your power and plunder your forts.” GOD’s Message: “In the same way that a shepherd trying to save a lamb from a lion Manages to recover just a pair of legs or the scrap of an ear, So will little be saved of the Israelites who live in Samaria— A couple of old chairs at most, the broken leg of a table. “Listen and bring witness against Jacob’s family”— this is God’s Word, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies! “Note well! The day I make Israel pay for its sins, pay for the sin-altars of worship at Bethel, The horned altars will all be dehorned and scattered around. I’ll tear down the winter palace, smash the summer palace—all your fancy buildings. The luxury homes will be demolished, all those pretentious houses.” GOD’s Decree.

If a trumpet is blown in a city, will the people not tremble? If a disaster occurs in a city, has the LORD not brought it about? Certainly the Lord GOD does nothing Unless He reveals His secret plan To His servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can do anything but prophesy? Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt and say, “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria and see the great panic within her and the oppressions in her midst. But they do not know how to do what is right,” declares the LORD, “these who store up violence and devastation in their citadels.” Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: “An enemy, one surrounding the land, Will take down your fortifications from you, And your citadels will be looted.” This is what the LORD says: “Just as the shepherd snatches from the lion’s mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear, So will the sons of Israel living in Samaria be snatched away— With the corner of a bed and the cover of a couch! “Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,” Declares the Lord GOD, the God of armies. “For on the day that I punish Israel’s offenses, I will also punish the altars of Bethel; The horns of the altar will be cut off, And will fall to the ground. “I will also strike the winter house together with the summer house; The houses of ivory will also perish, And the great houses will come to an end,” Declares the LORD.

If a trumpet is blown in a city [warning of danger] will not the people tremble? If a disaster or misfortune occurs in a city has not the LORD caused it? Surely the Lord GOD does nothing Without revealing His secret plan [of the judgment to come] To His servants the prophets. [Rev 10:7] The lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken [to the prophets]! Who can but prophesy? [Acts 4:20; 5:20, 29; 1 Cor 9:16] Proclaim on the fortresses in Ashdod (Philistia) and on the citadels in the land of Egypt, and say, “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria, and see the great confusion within her and the oppressions and abuse of authority in her midst. For they do not know how to do right,” says the LORD, “these who store up violence and devastation [like treasures] in their strongholds.” Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, “An adversary (Assyria), even one surrounding the land, Shall pull down your strength from you And your fortresses will be looted.” Thus says the LORD, “Just as the shepherd snatches from the mouth of the lion a couple of legs or a piece of the [sheep’s] ear [to prove to the owner that he has not stolen the animal], So will the [remaining] children of Israel living in Samaria be snatched away With the corner of a bed and [part of] the damask covering of a couch. “Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,” Says the Lord GOD, the God of hosts, “On that day when I punish Israel’s transgressions, I shall also punish the altars of Bethel [with their golden calves]; And the horns of the altar shall be cut off And fall to the ground. “And I shall tear down the winter house with the summer house; And the houses of ivory shall also perish And the great houses shall come to an end,” Says the LORD.

If an alarm sounds in a city, do people not fear? If disaster overtakes a city, is the LORD not responsible? Certainly the sovereign LORD does nothing without first revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who is not afraid? The sovereign LORD has spoken! Who can refuse to prophesy? Make this announcement in the fortresses of Ashdod and in the fortresses in the land of Egypt. Say this: “Gather on the hills around Samaria! Observe the many acts of violence taking place within the city, the oppressive deeds occurring in it.” “They do not know how to do what is right.” (The LORD is speaking.) “They store up the spoils of destructive violence in their fortresses. Therefore,” says the sovereign LORD, “an enemy will encircle the land. He will take away your power; your fortresses will be looted.” This is what the LORD says: “Just as a shepherd salvages from the lion’s mouth a couple of leg bones or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites who live in Samaria will be salvaged. They will be left with just a corner of a bed, and a part of a couch.” Listen and warn the family of Jacob! The sovereign LORD, the God who commands armies, is speaking! “Certainly when I punish Israel for their covenant transgressions, I will destroy Bethel’s altars. The horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground. I will destroy both the winter and summer houses. The houses filled with ivory will be ruined, the great houses will be swept away.” The LORD is speaking!