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Amos

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

Chapter 3

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1 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 to this message from God about you, dear children of Israel, and all your family who I rescued from Egypt. He says...

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

*I have only known you among all Earth's families, so I will punish you for all your wrongdoings.

3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

*Can two people go somewhere together, unless they have the same opinion?

4 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?

*Will a lion roar in the forest with nowhere to hunt? Will a young lion call from his den with nothing caught?

5 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?

*Can a bird get caught in a trap on the ground with no trap set for it? Will someone remove a trap from the ground but catch nothing?

6 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?

*If a trumpet is sounded in the city, will people not be frightened? Can there be wickedness in a city without the Lord causing it?

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

*Of course, God will not act without telling his plans to his prophet helpers.

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

*The lion has roared; who won't be afraid? God has spoken; who can't but predict?

9 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.

*Post this message in the royal buildings in Ashdod and in Egypt's palaces: Gather at the hills of Samaria and witness the chaos within and the suffering people there.

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

*They don't know how to do what is right, says God. They keep violence and theft in their big houses.

11 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.

*So, God says this: There will be an enemy all around your country. They will weaken you and destroy your important buildings.

12 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.

*This is what God says: Just like how a shepherd removes two legs or part of an ear from a lion's mouth, the people of Israel living in Samaria and Damascus will be rescued from difficult situations - taken out from under a bed and a couch.

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

*Listen carefully and speak the truth in the home of Jacob's people," says the Lord, the God of armies.

14 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.

*On the day I punish Israel for its sins, I will also destroy the altars of Bethel. The altar's horns will be removed and they will fall to the ground.

15 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 destroy the winter home with the summer home; and the homes made of ivory will be destroyed, along with the big homes. This is what the LORD says.

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* work in progress, there will be mistakes

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