The Prophet Reveals Destruction
3 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 two walk together
unless they meet by appointment?
4 Does a lion roar in the forest
when he has no prey?
Does a young lion growl from his den
unless he has taken prey?
5 Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground
if it has no bait?
Will a snare spring up from the ground
without taking anything?
6 If a shofar alarm sounds in a city,
will people not tremble?
If there is calamity in a city,
has not Adonai caused it?
7 For the Lord Adonai, will do nothing,
unless He has revealed His counsel
to His servants the prophets.[a]
8 A lion has roared, who will not fear?
My Lord Adonai has spoken,
who shall not prophesy?
9 Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod
and the citadels in the land of Egypt:
“Assemble on Samaria’s mountains:
Behold the great tumult within it,
even the oppression within it.”
10 They do not know how to be honest,
—declares Adonai—
those who are saving up violence and destruction in their citadels.
11 Therefore thus says my Lord Adonai:
“An adversary will surround the land!
He will bring down your strength.
Your citadels will be plundered
12 Thus says Adonai:
“Just as the shepherd snatches out of the mouth of the lion
two legs, or a piece of an ear,
so will Bnei-Yisrael dwelling in Samaria
escape with the corner of a bed
or a head of a couch.
13 Hear, and testify against the house of Jacob.”
It is the declaration of my Lord
Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot.
14 “For in a day I shall punish Israel for the transgressions of Israel,
and attend to the altars of Bethel—
the horns of the altar will be cut off
and fall to the ground.
15 I will also strike the winter house
together with the summer house.
The houses of ivory will perish,
and great houses will be demolished.”
It is the declaration of Adonai.
Footnotes
- Amos 3:7 cf. John 15:15.