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Amos

Speaks against injustice and predicts Israel's punishment but ends with hope for restoration.

Chapter 6

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1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!

*Oh no for those who feel safe in Zion and rely on the mountain of Samaria, thinking they're the top of all nations. The people of Israel went to them for help.

2 Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?

*Go to Calneh and look around. Then continue to Hamath, a big city. Next, visit Gath, a city of the Philistines. Are they better than these other kingdoms? Or do they have a bigger border than you?

3 Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;

*You who delay dealing with problems and bring chaos closer.

4 That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;

*Those who relax on luxurious beds and lounges, and eat young lambs from the herd, and young calves from the pen.

5 That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;

*They sing along with the viol sound, and create their own music instruments, just like David did;

6 That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

*They drink wine from large bowls and use the finest oils on themselves, but they don't feel sad about Joseph's suffering.

7 Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed.

*So now, those who were captured earlier will be joined by others in captivity, and the feast for those who got too comfortable will be taken away.

8 The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.

*God promises, "I swear by myself," says the Lord, the ruler of armies, "I don't like Jacob's greatness, and I dislike his fancy buildings. So, I will hand over the city along with everything in it."

9 And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die.

*If there are ten people left in a house, they will all pass away.

10 And a man’s uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.

*A man's uncle will help him leave the house, along with the person who sets fire to it. They'll ask anyone near the house if there are more people inside. If they hear "No," they'll tell them to be quiet because they can't say the Lord's name.

11 For, behold, the LORD commandeth, and he will smite the great house with breaches, and the little house with clefts.

*"For see, the Lord is ordering this, and he will cause big houses to have breaks and small houses to have cracks."

12 Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:

*Will horses ride on rocks? Will oxen plow there? You changed justice into poison and righteousness into a deadly plant.

13 Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?

*You who are proud of something worthless, who say, Haven't we gained power on our own?

14 But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness.

*But look, I will bring a powerful nation against you, House of Israel, says the Lord, God of armies; and they will cause you trouble from the border of Hamath to the desert river.

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* work in progress, there will be mistakes

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