God’s Reasons for Punishing Israel

Amos 3   

1 Listen to this message that the LORD has spoken against you, Israelites, against the entire clan that I brought from the land of Egypt: p

2   I have known only you q

out of all the clans of the earth;

therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities. r

3   Can two walk together s

without agreeing to meet?

4   Does a lion roar t 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 u is blown in a city,

aren’t people afraid? v

If a disaster w occurs in a city,

hasn’t the LORD done it? x

7   Indeed, the Lord GOD does nothing

without revealing his counsel

to his servants the prophets. y

8   A lion has roared; z

who will not fear?

The Lord GOD has spoken; a

who will not prophesy? b

9   Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod c

and on the citadels in the land of Egypt:

Assemble on the mountains of Samaria, d

and see the great turmoil in the city

and the acts of oppression within it. e

10   The people are incapable of doing right f

this is the LORDS declaration—

those who store up violence and destruction g

in their citadels.

11 Therefore, the Lord GOD says:

An enemy h will surround the land;

he will destroy i your strongholds

and plunder your citadels. j

12 The LORD says:

As the shepherd snatches two legs

or a piece of an ear

from the lion’s mouth, k

so the Israelites who live in Samaria

will be rescued

with only the corner of a bed l

or the F cushion G of a couch. H,m

13   Listen and testify n against the house of Jacob—

this is the declaration of the Lord GOD,

the God of Armies.

14   I will punish the altars of Bethel o

on the day I punish Israel for its crimes;

the horns of the altar p will be cut off

and fall to the ground. q

15   I will demolish the winter house r

and the summer house; s

the houses inlaid with ivory t will be destroyed,

and the great houses u will come to an end.

This is the LORDS declaration.