Scripture Reading

Amos.1-Amos.2

Amos.1-Amos.2

Amos.1.1

The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

Amos.1.1

The Message of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa, that he received on behalf of Israel. It came to him in visions during the time that Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam II son of Joash was king of Israel, two years before the big earthquake.

Amos.1.1

The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa-what he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.

Amos.1.1

The words of Amos, who was among the sheepbreeders of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

Amos.1.1

This message was given to Amos, a shepherd from the town of Tekoa in Judah. He received this message in visions two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam II, the son of Jehoash, was king of Israel.

Amos.1.2

And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.

Amos.1.2

The Message: GOD roars from Zion, shouts from Jerusalem! The thunderclap voice withers the pastures tended by shepherds, shrivels Mount Carmel's proud peak.

Amos.1.2

He said: "The LORD roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds dry up, and the top of Carmel withers."

Amos.1.2

And he said: "The LORD roars from Zion, And utters His voice from Jerusalem; The pastures of the shepherds mourn, And the top of Carmel withers."

Amos.1.2

This is his report of what he saw and heard: "The LORD's voice roars from his Temple on Mount Zion; he thunders from Jerusalem! Suddenly, the lush pastures of the shepherds dry up. All the grass on Mount Carmel withers and dies."

Amos.1.3

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:

Amos.1.3

GOD's Message: "Because of the three great sins of Damascus -make that four--I'm not putting up with her any longer. She pounded Gilead to a pulp, pounded her senseless with iron hammers and mauls.

Amos.1.3

This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Damascus, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because she threshed Gilead with sledges having iron teeth,

Amos.1.3

Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they have threshed Gilead with implements of iron.

Amos.1.3

This is what the LORD says: "The people of Damascus have sinned again and again, and I will not forget it. I will not let them go unpunished any longer! They beat down my people in Gilead as grain is threshed with threshing sledges of iron.

Amos.1.4

But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad.

Amos.1.4

For that, I'm setting the palace of Hazael on fire. I'm torching Ben-hadad's forts.

Amos.1.4

I will send fire upon the house of Hazael that will consume the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.

Amos.1.4

But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, Which shall devour the palaces of Ben-Hadad.

Amos.1.4

So I will send down fire on King Hazael's palace, and the fortresses of King Ben-hadad will be destroyed.

Amos.1.5

I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the LORD.

Amos.1.5

I'm going to smash the Damascus gates and banish the crime king who lives in Sin Valley, the vice boss who gives orders from Paradise Palace. The people of the land will be sent back to where they came from--to Kir." GOD's Decree.

Amos.1.5

I will break down the gate of Damascus; I will destroy the king who is in the Valley of Aven and the one who holds the scepter in Beth Eden. The people of Aram will go into exile to Kir," says the LORD.

Amos.1.5

I will also break the gate bar of Damascus, And cut off the inhabitant from the Valley of Aven, And the one who holds the scepter from Beth Eden. The people of Syria shall go captive to Kir," Says the LORD.

Amos.1.5

I will break down the gates of Damascus and slaughter its people all the way to the valley of Aven. I will destroy the ruler in Beth-eden, and the people of Aram will return to Kir as slaves. I, the LORD, have spoken!"

Amos.1.6

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:

Amos.1.6

GOD's Message: "Because of the three great sins of Gaza -make that four--I'm not putting up with her any longer. She deported whole towns and then sold the people to Edom.

Amos.1.6

This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Gaza, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because she took captive whole communities and sold them to Edom,

Amos.1.6

Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they took captive the whole captivity To deliver them up to Edom.

Amos.1.6

This is what the LORD says: "The people of Gaza have sinned again and again, and I will not forget it. I will not let them go unpunished any longer! They sent my people into exile, selling them as slaves in Edom.

Amos.1.7

But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof:

Amos.1.7

For that, I'm burning down the walls of Gaza, burning up all her forts.

Amos.1.7

I will send fire upon the walls of Gaza that will consume her fortresses.

Amos.1.7

But I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza, Which shall devour its palaces.

Amos.1.7

So I will send down fire on the walls of Gaza, and all its fortresses will be destroyed.

Amos.1.8

And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord GOD.

Amos.1.8

I'll banish the crime king from Ashdod, the vice boss from Ashkelon. I'll raise my fist against Ekron, and what's left of the Philistines will die." GOD's Decree.

Amos.1.8

I will destroy the king of Ashdod and the one who holds the scepter in Ashkelon. I will turn my hand against Ekron, till the last of the Philistines is dead," says the Sovereign LORD.

Amos.1.8

I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, And the one who holds the scepter from Ashkelon; I will turn My hand against Ekron, And the remnant of the Philistines shall perish," Says the Lord GOD.

Amos.1.8

I will slaughter the people of Ashdod and destroy the king of Ashkelon. Then I will turn to attack Ekron, and the few Philistines still left will be killed. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!"

Amos.1.9

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant:

Amos.1.9

GOD's Message: "Because of the three great sins of Tyre -make that four--I'm not putting up with her any longer. She deported whole towns to Edom, breaking the treaty she had with her kin.

Amos.1.9

This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Tyre, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because she sold whole communities of captives to Edom, disregarding a treaty of brotherhood,

Amos.1.9

Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, And did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.

Amos.1.9

This is what the LORD says: "The people of Tyre have sinned again and again, and I will not forget it. I will not let them go unpunished any longer! They broke their treaty of brotherhood with Israel, selling whole villages as slaves to Edom.

Amos.1.10

But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof.

Amos.1.10

For that, I'm burning down the walls of Tyre, burning up all her forts."

Amos.1.10

I will send fire upon the walls of Tyre that will consume her fortresses."

Amos.1.10

But I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre, Which shall devour its palaces."

Amos.1.10

So I will send down fire on the walls of Tyre, and all its fortresses will be destroyed."

Amos.1.11

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever:

Amos.1.11

GOD's Message: "Because of the three great sins of Edom -make that four--I'm not putting up with her any longer. She hunts down her brother to murder him. She has no pity, she has no heart. Her anger rampages day and night. Her meanness never takes a timeout.

Amos.1.11

This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Edom, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because he pursued his brother with a sword, stifling all compassion, because his anger raged continually and his fury flamed unchecked,

Amos.1.11

Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because he pursued his brother with the sword, And cast off all pity; His anger tore perpetually, And he kept his wrath forever.

Amos.1.11

This is what the LORD says: "The people of Edom have sinned again and again, and I will not forget it. I will not let them go unpunished any longer! They chased down their relatives, the Israelites, with swords. They showed them no mercy and were unrelenting in their anger.

Amos.1.12

But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah.

Amos.1.12

For that, I'm burning down her capital, Teman, burning up the forts of Bozrah."

Amos.1.12

I will send fire upon Teman that will consume the fortresses of Bozrah."

Amos.1.12

But I will send a fire upon Teman, Which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah."

Amos.1.12

So I will send down fire on Teman, and the fortresses of Bozrah will be destroyed."

Amos.1.13

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border:

Amos.1.13

GOD's Message: "Because of the three great sins of Ammon -make that four--I'm not putting up with her any longer. She ripped open pregnant women in Gilead to get more land for herself.

Amos.1.13

This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Ammon, even for four, I will not turn back {my wrath}. Because he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to extend his borders,

Amos.1.13

Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of the people of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they ripped open the women with child in Gilead, That they might enlarge their territory.

Amos.1.13

This is what the LORD says: "The people of Ammon have sinned again and again, and I will not forget it. I will not let them go unpunished any longer! When they attacked Gilead to extend their borders, they committed cruel crimes, ripping open pregnant women with their swords.

Amos.1.14

But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:

Amos.1.14

For that, I'm burning down the walls of her capital, Rabbah, burning up her forts. Battle shouts! War whoops! with a tornado to finish things off!

Amos.1.14

I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah that will consume her fortresses amid war cries on the day of battle, amid violent winds on a stormy day.

Amos.1.14

But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, And it shall devour its palaces, Amid shouting in the day of battle, And a tempest in the day of the whirlwind.

Amos.1.14

So I will send down fire on the walls of Rabbah, and all its fortresses will be destroyed. There will be wild shouts during the battle, swirling like a whirlwind in a mighty storm.

Amos.1.15

And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD.

Amos.1.15

The king has been carted off to exile, the king and his princes with him." GOD's Decree. [JC]

Amos.1.15

Her king will go into exile, he and his officials together," says the LORD.

Amos.1.15

Their king shall go into captivity, He and his princes together," Says the LORD.

Amos.1.15

And their king and his princes will go into exile together. I, the LORD, have spoken!"

Amos.2.1

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:

Amos.2.1

GOD's Message: "Because of the three great sins of Moab -make that four--I'm not putting up with her any longer. She violated the corpse of Edom's king, burning it to cinders.

Amos.2.1

This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Moab, even for four, I will not turn back {my wrath}. Because he burned, as if to lime, the bones of Edom's king,

Amos.2.1

Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime.

Amos.2.1

This is what the LORD says: "The people of Moab have sinned again and again, and I will not forget it. I will not let them go unpunished any longer! They desecrated the tomb of Edom's king and burned his bones to ashes.

Amos.2.2

But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet:

Amos.2.2

For that, I'm burning down Moab, burning down the forts of Kerioth. Moab will die in the shouting, go out in the blare of war trumpets.

Amos.2.2

I will send fire upon Moab that will consume the fortresses of Kerioth. Moab will go down in great tumult amid war cries and the blast of the trumpet.

Amos.2.2

But I will send a fire upon Moab, And it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth; Moab shall die with tumult, With shouting and trumpet sound.

Amos.2.2

So I will send down fire on the land of Moab, and all the fortresses in Kerioth will be destroyed. The people will fall in the noise of battle, as the warriors shout and the trumpets blare.

Amos.2.3

And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith the LORD.

Amos.2.3

I'll remove the king from the center and kill all his princes with him." GOD's Decree.

Amos.2.3

I will destroy her ruler and kill all her officials with him," says the LORD.

Amos.2.3

And I will cut off the judge from its midst, And slay all its princes with him," Says the LORD.

Amos.2.3

And I will destroy their king and slaughter all their princes. I, the LORD, have spoken!"

Amos.2.4

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked:

Amos.2.4

GOD's Message: "Because of the three great sins of Judah -make that four--I'm not putting up with them any longer. They rejected GOD's revelation, refused to keep my commands. But they swallowed the same old lies that got their ancestors onto dead-end roads.

Amos.2.4

This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not turn back {my wrath}. Because they have rejected the law of the LORD and have not kept his decrees, because they have been led astray by false gods, the gods their ancestors followed,

Amos.2.4

Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they have despised the law of the LORD, And have not kept His commandments. Their lies lead them astray, Lies which their fathers followed.

Amos.2.4

This is what the LORD says: "The people of Judah have sinned again and again, and I will not forget it. I will not let them go unpunished any longer! They have rejected the laws of the LORD, refusing to obey him. They have been led astray by the same lies that deceived their ancestors.

Amos.2.5

But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.

Amos.2.5

For that, I'm burning down Judah, burning down all the forts of Jerusalem."

Amos.2.5

I will send fire upon Judah that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem."

Amos.2.5

But I will send a fire upon Judah, And it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem."

Amos.2.5

So I will send down fire on Judah, and all the fortresses of Jerusalem will be destroyed."

Amos.2.6

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;

Amos.2.6

GOD's Message: "Because of the three great sins of Israel -make that four--I'm not putting up with them any longer. They buy and sell upstanding people. People for them are only things--ways of making money. They'd sell a poor man for a pair of shoes. They'd sell their own grandmother!

Amos.2.6

This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back {my wrath}. They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals.

Amos.2.6

Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they sell the righteous for silver, And the poor for a pair of sandals.

Amos.2.6

This is what the LORD says: "The people of Israel have sinned again and again, and I will not forget it. I will not let them go unpunished any longer! They have perverted justice by selling honest people for silver and poor people for a pair of sandals.

Amos.2.7

That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name:

Amos.2.7

They grind the penniless into the dirt, shove the luckless into the ditch. Everyone and his brother sleeps with the "sacred whore'--a sacrilege against my Holy Name.

Amos.2.7

They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.

Amos.2.7

They pant after the dust of the earth which is on the head of the poor, And pervert the way of the humble. A man and his father go in to the same girl, To defile My holy name.

Amos.2.7

They trample helpless people in the dust and deny justice to those who are oppressed. Both father and son sleep with the same woman, corrupting my holy name.

Amos.2.8

And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.

Amos.2.8

Stuff they've extorted from the poor is piled up at the shrine of their god, While they sit around drinking wine they've conned from their victims.

Amos.2.8

They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. In the house of their god they drink wine taken as fines.

Amos.2.8

They lie down by every altar on clothes taken in pledge, And drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.

Amos.2.8

At their religious festivals, they lounge around in clothing stolen from their debtors. In the house of their god, they present offerings of wine purchased with stolen money.

Amos.2.9

Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath.

Amos.2.9

"In contrast, I was always on your side. I destroyed the Amorites who confronted you, Amorites with the stature of great cedars, tough as thick oaks. I destroyed them from the top branches down. I destroyed them from the roots up.

Amos.2.9

"I destroyed the Amorite before them, though he was tall as the cedars and strong as the oaks. I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below.

Amos.2.9

"Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, Whose height was like the height of the cedars, And he was as strong as the oaks; Yet I destroyed his fruit above And his roots beneath.

Amos.2.9

"Yet think of all I did for my people! I destroyed the Amorites before my people arrived in the land. The Amorites were as tall as cedar trees and strong as oaks, but I destroyed their fruit and dug out their roots.

Amos.2.10

Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.

Amos.2.10

And yes, I'm the One who delivered you from Egypt, led you safely through the wilderness for forty years And then handed you the country of the Amorites like a piece of cake on a platter.

Amos.2.10

"I brought you up out of Egypt, and I led you forty years in the desert to give you the land of the Amorites.

Amos.2.10

Also it was I who brought you up from the land of Egypt, And led you forty years through the wilderness, To possess the land of the Amorite.

Amos.2.10

It was I who rescued you from Egypt and led you through the desert for forty years so you could possess the land of the Amorites.

Amos.2.11

And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the LORD.

Amos.2.11

I raised up some of your young men to be prophets, set aside your best youth for training in holiness. Isn't this so, Israel?" GOD's Decree.

Amos.2.11

I also raised up prophets from among your sons and Nazirites from among your young men. Is this not true, people of Israel?" declares the LORD.

Amos.2.11

I raised up some of your sons as prophets, And some of your young men as Nazirites. Is it not so, O you children of Israel?" Says the LORD.

Amos.2.11

I chose some of your sons to be prophets and others to be Nazirites. Can you deny this, my people of Israel?" asks the LORD.

Amos.2.12

But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.

Amos.2.12

"But you made the youth-in-training break training, and you told the young prophets, "Don't prophesy!'

Amos.2.12

"But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.

Amos.2.12

"But you gave the Nazirites wine to drink, And commanded the prophets saying, "Do not prophesy!'

Amos.2.12

"But you caused the Nazirites to sin by making them drink your wine, and you said to my prophets, `Shut up!'

Amos.2.13

Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.

Amos.2.13

You're too much for me. I'm hard-pressed--to the breaking point. I'm like a wagon piled high and overloaded, creaking and groaning.

Amos.2.13

"Now then, I will crush you as a cart crushes when loaded with grain.

Amos.2.13

"Behold, I am weighed down by you, As a cart full of sheaves is weighed down.

Amos.2.13

"So I will make you groan as a wagon groans when it is loaded down with grain.

Amos.2.14

Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:

Amos.2.14

"When I go into action, what will you do? There's no place to run no matter how fast you run. The strength of the strong won't count. Fighters won't make it.

Amos.2.14

The swift will not escape, the strong will not muster their strength, and the warrior will not save his life.

Amos.2.14

Therefore flight shall perish from the swift, The strong shall not strengthen his power, Nor shall the mighty deliver himself;

Amos.2.14

Your fastest runners will not get away. The strongest among you will become weak. Even the mightiest warriors will be unable to save themselves.

Amos.2.15

Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself.

Amos.2.15

Skilled archers won't make it. Fast runners won't make it. Chariot drivers won't make it.

Amos.2.15

The archer will not stand his ground, the fleet-footed soldier will not get away, and the horseman will not save his life.

Amos.2.15

He shall not stand who handles the bow, The swift of foot shall not escape, Nor shall he who rides a horse deliver himself.

Amos.2.15

The archers will fail to stand their ground. The swiftest soldiers won't be fast enough to escape. Even warriors on horses won't be able to outrun the danger.

Amos.2.16

And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith the LORD.

Amos.2.16

Even the bravest of all your warriors Won't make it. He'll run off for dear life, stripped naked." GOD's Decree.

Amos.2.16

Even the bravest warriors will flee naked on that day," declares the LORD.

Amos.2.16

The most courageous men of might Shall flee naked in that day," Says the LORD.

Amos.2.16

On that day, the most courageous of your fighting men will drop their weapons and run for their lives. I, the LORD, have spoken!"