Amos 3

Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,

Listen carefully, children of Israel, to the message the LORD has spoken against you, against the whole family He brought up out of Egypt.

You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.

Among all the people on earth, it's only you I have chosen to know. So, I will punish you for all your wrongdoings.

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Can two journey side by side if they don't share the same heart?

Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?

Would a lion bellow in the woods without a catch? Would a cub whimper from its lair if it has hunted in vain?

Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?

Is it possible for a bird to be trapped on the ground if there's no trap set for it? Can you lift an empty trap and expect to have caught something?

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?

When the trumpet sounds in the city, won't people tremble in fear? If there's chaos in the city, isn't it God's doing?

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Without a doubt, God won't act without first sharing His plans with His trusted prophets.

The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

When the lion roars, who isn't filled with fear? When the Lord speaks, who can resist sharing His message?

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.

Spread the word in Ashdod's grand halls and Egypt's majestic courts. Gather on Samaria's peaks and witness the chaos and suffering within.

For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.

The Lord says, they are clueless about doing good, filling their homes with ill-gotten gains and cruelty.

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.

The Lord God declares, "An enemy will surround your land, weakening you and leaving your homes in ruins."

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.

The Lord declares: just as a shepherd snatches from a lion's mouth only two legs or a piece of an ear, so the people of Israel who live in Samaria will be rescued with no more than the corner of a bed or the cushion of a couch.

Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,

Listen closely, and bear witness in the community of Jacob, says the Lord God, the God of all.

That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.

When the day comes for me to punish Israel for its wrongdoings, I will also punish the altars of Bethel. The horns of the altar will 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.

I will bring down both the winter and summer homes; the luxurious ivory mansions will be destroyed, and the grand houses will cease to exist, declares the LORD.