Amos 3:3-15

Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? Does the lion roar in the bush if it has no prey? Does the lion growl in his lair if it has seized nothing? Does a bird alight on a trap on the ground if there is no bait inside? Does the net spring up from the ground if it has caught nothing? Does the war trumpet sound in the city without the people being frightened? Does calamity come to a city if it has not passed through YAHWEH’s hands? Indeed, Lord YAHWEH does nothing without revealing his secrets to his servants the prophets. The lion has roared! Who is not afraid? Lord YAHWEH has spoken! Who will not prophesy? Proclaim to the strongholds of Assyria and Egypt, and say to them, “Gather on the hills around Samaria; take a good, hard look at the rampant disorder within the city and see how oppressed the people are.” “They don’t even know how to do right,” declares YAHWEH. “They hoard in their palaces the spoils of their violence and extortion. Therefore, I, Lord YAHWEH, say: an enemy will soon overrun the land. He will topple your strongholds and plunder your palaces.” This is what YAHWEH says: “As a shepherd can only rescue two leg bones or a piece of an ear out of the jaws of a lion, so the Israelites who live in Samaria will only be able to salvage one leg of a bed and a piece of a headboard from their ravaged city.” “I, Lord YAHWEH, the Mighty God of Angel Armies, say: Listen! Warn Jacob’s descendants. On the day when I punish Israel for her crimes, I will also destroy the altars of Bethel. The horns of the altar will be hacked off and fall to the ground. I will tear down the winter house of the wealthy along with your summer house. Your luxury homes decorated with ivory and your lovely mansions will likewise be destroyed. I, YAHWEH, have spoken.”