Amos 3 - Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

God’s Reasons for Punishing Israel

3 Listen to this message that the Lord has spoken against you, Israelites, against the entire clan that I brought from the land of Egypt:(A)

2 I have known only you(B)
out of all the clans of the earth;
therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities.(C)
3 Can two walk together(D)
without agreeing to meet?[a]
4 Does a lion roar(E) in the forest
when it has no prey?
Does a young lion growl from its lair
unless it has captured something?
5 Does a bird land in a trap on the ground
if there is no bait for it?
Does a trap spring from the ground
when it has caught nothing?
6 If a ram’s horn(F) is blown in a city,
aren’t people afraid?(G)
If a disaster(H) occurs in a city,
hasn’t the Lord done it?(I)
7 Indeed, the Lord God does nothing
without revealing His counsel
to His servants the prophets.(J)
8 A lion has roared;(K)
who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken;(L)
who will not prophesy?(M)

9 Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod(N)
and on the citadels in the land of Egypt:
Assemble on the mountains of Samaria(O)
and see the great turmoil in the city
and the acts of oppression within it.(P)
10 The people are incapable of doing right(Q)—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
those who store up violence and destruction(R)
in their citadels.

11 Therefore, the Lord God says:

An enemy(S) will surround the land;
he will destroy(T) your strongholds
and plunder your citadels.(U)

12 The Lord says:

As the shepherd snatches two legs
or a piece of an ear
from the lion’s mouth,(V)
so the Israelites who live in Samaria
will be rescued
with only the corner of a bed(W)
or the[b] cushion[c] of a couch.[d](X)

13 Listen and testify(Y) against the house of Jacob—
this is the declaration of the Lord God,
the God of Hosts.
14 I will punish the altars of Bethel(Z)
on the day I punish Israel for its crimes;
the horns of the altar(AA) will be cut off
and fall to the ground.(AB)
15 I will demolish the winter house(AC)
and the summer house;(AD)
the houses inlaid with ivory(AE) will be destroyed,
and the great houses(AF) will come to an end.
This is the Lord’s declaration.

Footnotes

  1. Amos 3:3 LXX reads without meeting
  2. Amos 3:12 Or Israelites will be rescued, those who sit in Samaria on a corner of a bed or a
  3. Amos 3:12 Hb obscure
  4. Amos 3:12 LXX, Aq, Sym, Theod, Syr, Tg, Vg read or in Damascus

Cross references

  1. 3:1 : Am 2:10
  2. 3:2 : Ex 19:5-6; Dt 4:32-37
  3. 3:2 : Jr 14:10; Ezk 20:36; Dn 9:12
  4. 3:3 : Lv 26:23-24
  5. 3:4 : Ps 104:21; Hs 5:14; 11:10
  6. 3:6 : Jr 4:5, 19, 21; 6:1; Hs 5:8; Zph 1:16
  7. 3:6 : Nm 10:9; Jr 4:19; Jl 2:1
  8. 3:6 : Is 14:24-27; 45:7
  9. 3:6 : Lm 3:37-39
  10. 3:7 : Gn 18:17; Jr 23:18, 22; Jnh 1:2
  11. 3:8 : Am 1:2
  12. 3:8 : Jnh 1:1-3; 3:1-3
  13. 3:8 : Jr 6:10-11; 20:9
  14. 3:9 : 1Sm 5:1; Am 1:8
  15. 3:9 : Am 4:1; 6:1
  16. 3:9 : Am 5:11; 6:8
  17. 3:10 : Ps 14:4; Jr 4:22; Am 5:7; 6:12
  18. 3:10 : Hab 2:8-10; Zph 1:9; Zch 5:3-4
  19. 3:11 : Am 6:14
  20. 3:11 : Am 2:14
  21. 3:11 : 2Kg 17:5-6; 18:9-12
  22. 3:12 : 1Sm 17:34-37
  23. 3:12 : Ps 132:3
  24. 3:12 : Est 1:6; 7:8; Am 6:4
  25. 3:13 : Ezk 2:7
  26. 3:14 : Hs 10:5-8, 14-15; Am 4:4; 5:5-6; 7:10, 13
  27. 3:14 : Lv 8:15; 16:18-19; 1Kg 1:50-51; 2:28; Ps 118:27
  28. 3:14 : Hs 10:1-2
  29. 3:15 : Jr 36:22
  30. 3:15 : Jdg 3:20
  31. 3:15 : 1Kg 22:39; 2Ch 9:17; Am 6:4
  32. 3:15 : Am 2:5; 6:11

You Might Also Like:

Amos 3 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

3 Hear ye this word that Jehovah hath spoken concerning you, O sons of Israel, concerning all the family that I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying: 2 Only you I have known of all families of the land, Therefore I charge on you all your iniquities. 3 Do two walk together if they have not met? ...
Read More

Amos 3 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

3 Sons of Israel, hear ye the word which the Lord spake on you, and on all the kindred, which I led out of the land of Egypt, and said, (Israelites, hear ye the word which the Lord spoke about you, yea, about all the tribes, whom he led out of the land of Egypt, and he said,) 2 Only I knew you of al...
Read More

Amos 3 - World English Bible (WEB)

3 Hear this word that Yahweh has spoken against you, children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt, saying: 2 “I have only chosen you of all the families of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all of your sins.”3 Do two walk together, unless they hav...
Read More

Amos 3 - The Voice (VOICE)

We are appalled to hear of horrible atrocities and crimes against humanity. Today we work to put an end to ethnic cleansing and sex trafficking, but these crimes are nothing new. Consider the world Amos occupies: it’s a world where the Philistines, the most technologically advanced people in their r...
Read More

Amos 3 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

The Prophet Reveals Destruction3 Hear this word that Adonai has spoken against you, Bnei Yisrael, against the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying: 2 “Only you have I known from among all the families of the earth.Therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities. 3 Can t...
Read More

Amos 3 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Israel’s Guilt and Punishment3 Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt: 2 “You only have I known of all the families of the earth;therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. 3 “Do two walk ...
Read More

Amos 3 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Israel’s Guilt and Punishment3 Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt: 2 “You only have I known of all the families of the earth;therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. 3 “Do two walk ...
Read More

Amos 3 - Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)

3 Hear this word that Hashem hath spoken against you, O Bnei Yisroel, against the kol hamishpochoh which I brought up from Eretz Mitzrayim, saying, 2 You only have I known of all the mishpechot ha’adamah: therefore I will punish you for kol avonotechem. 3 Can shnayim walk together, except they be ag...
Read More

Amos 3 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Israel’s Guilt and Punishment3 Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt: 2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth;therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. 3 Do two walk tog...
Read More

Amos 3 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Israel’s Guilt and Punishment3 Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt: 2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth;therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. 3 Do two walk tog...
Read More

Amos 3 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Israel’s Guilt and Punishment3 Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt:(A)2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth;therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.(B)3 Do two walk...
Read More

Amos 3 - New Living Translation (NLT)

3 Listen to this message that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel—against the entire family I rescued from Egypt: 2 “From among all the families on the earth, I have been intimate with you alone.That is why I must punish you for all your sins.” Witnesses against Guilty Israel3 Can tw...
Read More

Amos 3 - New Life Version (NLV)

Word from the Man of God3 O people of Israel, hear this word which the Lord has spoken against you and against the whole family which He brought up from the land of Egypt. 2 “You are the only ones I have chosen among all the families of the earth. So I must punish you for all your sins.” 3 Do two ...
Read More

Amos 3 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Authority of the Prophet’s Message3 Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying: 2 “You(A) only have I known of all the families of the earth;(B)Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquiti...
Read More

Amos 3 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Witnesses summoned against Israel3 Hear this word, people of Israel, the word the Lord has spoken against you – against the whole family I brought up out of Egypt: 2 ‘You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth;therefore I will punish you for all your sins.’ 3 Do two walk together unless...
Read More

Amos 3 - New International Version (NIV)

Witnesses Summoned Against Israel3 Hear this word, people of Israel, the word the Lord has spoken against you(A)—against the whole family I brought up out of Egypt:(B) 2 “You only have I chosen(C) of all the families of the earth;therefore I will punish(D) you for all your sins.(E)” 3 Do two walk to...
Read More

Amos 3 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

The Lord Calls for Witnesses Against Israel3 People of Israel, listen to the Lord’s message. He has spoken his message against you. He has spoken it against the whole family he brought up out of Egypt. He says, 2 “Out of all the families on earth I have chosen only you.So I will punish you because y...
Read More