Scripture Reading

Amos.8-Amos.9

Amos.8-Amos.9

Amos.8.1

Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit.

Amos.8.1

My Master GOD showed me this vision: A bowl of fresh fruit.

Amos.8.1

This is what the Sovereign LORD showed me: a basket of ripe fruit.

Amos.8.1

Thus the Lord GOD showed me: Behold, a basket of summer fruit.

Amos.8.1

Then the Sovereign LORD showed me another vision. In it I saw a basket filled with ripe fruit.

Amos.8.2

And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.

Amos.8.2

He said, "What do you see, Amos?" I said, "A bowl of fresh, ripe fruit." GOD said, "Right. So, I'm calling it quits with my people Israel. I'm no longer acting as if everything is just fine."

Amos.8.2

"What do you see, Amos?" he asked. "A basket of ripe fruit," I answered. Then the LORD said to me, "The time is ripe for my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.

Amos.8.2

And He said, "Amos, what do you see?" So I said, "A basket of summer fruit." Then the LORD said to me: "The end has come upon My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore.

Amos.8.2

"What do you see, Amos?" he asked. I replied, "A basket full of ripe fruit." Then the LORD said, "This fruit represents my people of Israel--ripe for punishment! I will not delay their punishment again.

Amos.8.3

And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord GOD: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence.

Amos.8.3

"The royal singers will wail when it happens." My Master GOD said so. "Corpses will be strewn here, there, and everywhere. Hush!"

Amos.8.3

"In that day," declares the Sovereign LORD, "the songs in the temple will turn to wailing. Many, many bodies-flung everywhere! Silence!"

Amos.8.3

And the songs of the temple Shall be wailing in that day," Says the Lord GOD-- "Many dead bodies everywhere, They shall be thrown out in silence."

Amos.8.3

In that day the riotous sounds of singing in the Temple will turn to wailing. Dead bodies will be scattered everywhere. They will be carried out of the city in silence. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!"

Amos.8.4

Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,

Amos.8.4

Listen to this, you who walk all over the weak, you who treat poor people as less than nothing,

Amos.8.4

Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land,

Amos.8.4

Hear this, you who swallow up the needy, And make the poor of the land fail,

Amos.8.4

Listen to this, you who rob the poor and trample the needy!

Amos.8.5

Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?

Amos.8.5

Who say, "When's my next paycheck coming so I can go out and live it up? How long till the weekend when I can go out and have a good time?" Who give little and take much, and never do an honest day's work.

Amos.8.5

saying, "When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?"- skimping the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales,

Amos.8.5

Saying: "When will the New Moon be past, That we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, That we may trade wheat? Making the ephah small and the shekel large, Falsifying the scales by deceit,

Amos.8.5

You can't wait for the Sabbath day to be over and the religious festivals to end so you can get back to cheating the helpless. You measure out your grain in false measures and weigh it out on dishonest scales.

Amos.8.6

That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?

Amos.8.6

You exploit the poor, using them--and then, when they're used up, you discard them.

Amos.8.6

buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat.

Amos.8.6

That we may buy the poor for silver, And the needy for a pair of sandals-- Even sell the bad wheat?"

Amos.8.6

And you mix the wheat you sell with chaff swept from the floor! Then you enslave poor people for a debt of one piece of silver or a pair of sandals.

Amos.8.7

The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works.

Amos.8.7

GOD swears against the arrogance of Jacob: "I'm keeping track of their every last sin."

Amos.8.7

The LORD has sworn by the Pride of Jacob: "I will never forget anything they have done.

Amos.8.7

The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: "Surely I will never forget any of their works.

Amos.8.7

Now the LORD has sworn this oath by his own name, the Pride of Israel: "I will never forget the wicked things you have done!

Amos.8.8

Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? and it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.

Amos.8.8

God's oath will shake earth's foundations, dissolve the whole world into tears. God's oath will sweep in like a river that rises, flooding houses and lands, And then recedes, leaving behind a sea of mud.

Amos.8.8

"Will not the land tremble for this, and all who live in it mourn? The whole land will rise like the Nile; it will be stirred up and then sink like the river of Egypt.

Amos.8.8

Shall the land not tremble for this, And everyone mourn who dwells in it? All of it shall swell like the River, Heave and subside Like the River of Egypt.

Amos.8.8

The earth will tremble for your deeds, and everyone will mourn. The land will rise up like the Nile River at floodtime, toss about, and sink again.

Amos.8.9

And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:

Amos.8.9

"On Judgment Day, watch out!" These are the words of GOD, my Master. "I'll turn off the sun at noon. In the middle of the day the earth will go black.

Amos.8.9

"In that day," declares the Sovereign LORD, "I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.

Amos.8.9

"And it shall come to pass in that day," says the Lord GOD, "That I will make the sun go down at noon, And I will darken the earth in broad daylight;

Amos.8.9

At that time," says the Sovereign LORD, "I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth while it is still day.

Amos.8.10

And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.

Amos.8.10

I'll turn your parties into funerals and make every song you sing a dirge. Everyone will walk around in rags, with sunken eyes and bald heads. Think of the worst that could happen -your only son, say, murdered. That's a hint of Judgment Day -that and much more.

Amos.8.10

I will turn your religious feasts into mourning and all your singing into weeping. I will make all of you wear sackcloth and shave your heads. I will make that time like mourning for an only son and the end of it like a bitter day.

Amos.8.10

I will turn your feasts into mourning, And all your songs into lamentation; I will bring sackcloth on every waist, And baldness on every head; I will make it like mourning for an only son, And its end like a bitter day.

Amos.8.10

I will turn your celebrations into times of mourning, and your songs of joy will be turned to weeping. You will wear funeral clothes and shave your heads as signs of sorrow, as if your only son had died. How very bitter that day will be!

Amos.8.11

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

Amos.8.11

"Oh yes, Judgment Day is coming!" These are the words of my Master GOD. "I'll send a famine through the whole country. It won't be food or water that's lacking, but my Word.

Amos.8.11

"The days are coming," declares the Sovereign LORD, "when I will send a famine through the land- not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.

Amos.8.11

"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD, "That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD.

Amos.8.11

"The time is surely coming," says the Sovereign LORD, "when I will send a famine on the land--not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the LORD.

Amos.8.12

And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

Amos.8.12

People will drift from one end of the country to the other, roam to the north, wander to the east. They'll go anywhere, listen to anyone, hoping to hear GOD's Word--but they won't hear it.

Amos.8.12

Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it.

Amos.8.12

They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it.

Amos.8.12

People will stagger everywhere from sea to sea, searching for the word of the LORD, running here and going there, but they will not find it.

Amos.8.13

In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.

Amos.8.13

"On Judgment Day, lovely young girls will faint of Word-thirst, robust young men will faint of God-thirst,

Amos.8.13

"In that day "the lovely young women and strong young men will faint because of thirst.

Amos.8.13

"In that day the fair virgins And strong young men Shall faint from thirst.

Amos.8.13

Beautiful girls and fine young men will grow faint and weary, thirsting for the LORD's word.

Amos.8.14

They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beersheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again.

Amos.8.14

Along with those who take oaths at the Samaria Sin-and-Sex Center, saying, "As the lord god of Dan is my witness!' and "The lady goddess of Beer-sheba bless you!' Their lives will fall to pieces. They'll never put it together again."

Amos.8.14

They who swear by the shame of Samaria, or say, 'As surely as your god lives, O Dan,' or, 'As surely as the god of Beersheba lives'- they will fall, never to rise again."

Amos.8.14

Those who swear by the sin of Samaria, Who say, "As your god lives, O Dan!' And, "As the way of Beersheba lives!' They shall fall and never rise again."

Amos.8.14

And those who worship and swear by the idols of Samaria, Dan, and Beersheba will fall down, never to rise again."

Amos.9.1

I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered.

Amos.9.1

I saw my Master standing beside the altar at the shrine. He said: "Hit the tops of the shrine's pillars, make the floor shake. The roof's about to fall on the heads of the people, and whoever's still alive, I'll kill. No one will get away, no runaways will make it.

Amos.9.1

I saw the Lord standing by the altar, and he said: "Strike the tops of the pillars so that the thresholds shake. Bring them down on the heads of all the people; those who are left I will kill with the sword. Not one will get away, none will escape.

Amos.9.1

I saw the Lord standing by the altar, and He said: "Strike the doorposts, that the thresholds may shake, And break them on the heads of them all. I will slay the last of them with the sword. He who flees from them shall not get away, And he who escapes from them shall not be delivered.

Amos.9.1

Then I saw a vision of the Lord standing beside the altar. He said, "Strike the tops of the Temple columns so hard that the foundation will shake. Smash the columns so the roof will crash down on the people below. Then those who survive will be slaughtered in battle. No one will escape!

Amos.9.2

Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:

Amos.9.2

If they dig their way down into the underworld, I'll find them and bring them up. If they climb to the stars, I'll find them and bring them down.

Amos.9.2

Though they dig down to the depths of the grave, from there my hand will take them. Though they climb up to the heavens, from there I will bring them down.

Amos.9.2

"Though they dig into hell, From there My hand shall take them; Though they climb up to heaven, From there I will bring them down;

Amos.9.2

"Even if they dig down to the place of the dead, I will reach down and pull them up. Even if they climb up into the heavens, I will bring them down.

Amos.9.3

And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:

Amos.9.3

If they hide out at the top of Mount Carmel, I'll find them and bring them back. If they dive to the bottom of the ocean, I'll send Dragon to swallow them up.

Amos.9.3

Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, there I will hunt them down and seize them. Though they hide from me at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them.

Amos.9.3

And though they hide themselves on top of Carmel, From there I will search and take them; Though they hide from My sight at the bottom of the sea, From there I will command the serpent, and it shall bite them;

Amos.9.3

Even if they hide at the very top of Mount Carmel, I will search them out and capture them. Even if they hide at the bottom of the ocean, I will send the great sea serpent after them to bite and destroy them.

Amos.9.4

And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good.

Amos.9.4

If they're captured alive by their enemies, I'll send Sword to kill them. I've made up my mind to hurt them, not help them."

Amos.9.4

Though they are driven into exile by their enemies, there I will command the sword to slay them. I will fix my eyes upon them for evil and not for good."

Amos.9.4

Though they go into captivity before their enemies, From there I will command the sword, And it shall slay them. I will set My eyes on them for harm and not for good."

Amos.9.4

Even if they are driven into exile, I will command the sword to kill them there. I am determined to bring disaster upon them and not to help them."

Amos.9.5

And the Lord GOD of hosts is he that toucheth the land, and it shall melt, and all that dwell therein shall mourn: and it shall rise up wholly like a flood; and shall be drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.

Amos.9.5

My Master, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, touches the earth, a mere touch, and it trembles. The whole world goes into mourning. Earth swells like the Nile at flood stage; then the water subsides, like the great Nile of Egypt.

Amos.9.5

The Lord, the LORD Almighty, he who touches the earth and it melts, and all who live in it mourn- the whole land rises like the Nile, then sinks like the river of Egypt-

Amos.9.5

The Lord GOD of hosts, He who touches the earth and it melts, And all who dwell there mourn; All of it shall swell like the River, And subside like the River of Egypt.

Amos.9.5

The Lord, the LORD Almighty, touches the land and it melts, and all its people mourn. The ground rises like the Nile River at floodtime, and then it sinks again.

Amos.9.6

It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.

Amos.9.6

God builds his palace--towers soaring high in the skies, foundations set on the rock-firm earth. He calls ocean waters and they come, then he ladles them out on the earth. GOD, your God, does all this. [JC]

Amos.9.6

he who builds his lofty palace in the heavens and sets its foundation on the earth, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land- the LORD is his name.

Amos.9.6

He who builds His layers in the sky, And has founded His strata in the earth; Who calls for the waters of the sea, And pours them out on the face of the earth-- The LORD is His name.

Amos.9.6

The upper stories of the LORD's home are in the heavens, while its foundation is on the earth. He draws up water from the oceans and pours it down as rain on the land. The LORD is his name!

Amos.9.7

Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children of Israel? saith the LORD. Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?

Amos.9.7

"Do you Israelites think you're any better than the far-off Cushites?" GOD's Decree. "Am I not involved with all nations? Didn't I bring Israel up from Egypt, the Philistines from Caphtor, the Arameans from Qir?

Amos.9.7

"Are not you Israelites the same to me as the Cushites?" declares the LORD. "Did I not bring Israel up from Egypt, the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir?

Amos.9.7

"Are you not like the people of Ethiopia to Me, O children of Israel?" says the LORD. "Did I not bring up Israel from the land of Egypt, The Philistines from Caphtor, And the Syrians from Kir?

Amos.9.7

"Do you Israelites think you are more important to me than the Ethiopians?" asks the LORD. "I brought you out of Egypt, but have I not done as much for other nations, too? I brought the Philistines from Crete and led the Arameans out of Kir.

Amos.9.8

Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD.

Amos.9.8

But you can be sure that I, GOD, the Master, have my eye on the Kingdom of Sin. I'm going to wipe it off the face of the earth. Still, I won't totally destroy the family of Jacob." GOD's Decree.

Amos.9.8

"Surely the eyes of the Sovereign LORD are on the sinful kingdom. I will destroy it from the face of the earth- yet I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob," declares the LORD.

Amos.9.8

"Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are on the sinful kingdom, And I will destroy it from the face of the earth; Yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob," Says the LORD.

Amos.9.8

"I, the Sovereign LORD, am watching this sinful nation of Israel, and I will uproot it and scatter its people across the earth. Yet I have promised that I will never completely destroy the family of Israel, "says the LORD.

Amos.9.9

For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.

Amos.9.9

"I'm still giving the orders around here. I'm throwing Israel into a sieve among all the nations and shaking them good, shaking out all the sin, all the sinners. No real grain will be lost,

Amos.9.9

"For I will give the command, and I will shake the house of Israel among all the nations as grain is shaken in a sieve, and not a pebble will reach the ground.

Amos.9.9

"For surely I will command, And will sift the house of Israel among all nations, As grain is sifted in a sieve; Yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground.

Amos.9.9

"For I have commanded that Israel be persecuted by the other nations as grain is sifted in a sieve, yet not one true kernel will be lost.

Amos.9.10

All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.

Amos.9.10

but all the sinners will be sifted out and thrown away, the people who say, "Nothing bad will ever happen in our lifetime. It won't even come close.'

Amos.9.10

All the sinners among my people will die by the sword, all those who say, 'Disaster will not overtake or meet us.'

Amos.9.10

All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword, Who say, "The calamity shall not overtake nor confront us.'

Amos.9.10

But all the sinners will die by the sword--all those who say, `Nothing bad will happen to us.'

Amos.9.11

In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:

Amos.9.11

"But also on that Judgment Day I will restore David's house that has fallen to pieces. I'll repair the holes in the roof, replace the broken windows, fix it up like new. David's people will be strong again

Amos.9.11

"In that day I will restore David's fallen tent. I will repair its broken places, restore its ruins, and build it as it used to be,

Amos.9.11

"On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old;

Amos.9.11

"In that day I will restore the fallen kingdom of David. It is now like a house in ruins, but I will rebuild its walls and restore its former glory.

Amos.9.12

That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.

Amos.9.12

and seize what's left of enemy Edom, plus everyone else under my sovereign judgment." GOD's Decree. He will do this.

Amos.9.12

so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name, "declares the LORD, who will do these things.

Amos.9.12

That they may possess the remnant of Edom, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name," Says the LORD who does this thing.

Amos.9.12

And Israel will possess what is left of Edom and all the nations I have called to be mine. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do these things.

Amos.9.13

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.

Amos.9.13

"Yes indeed, it won't be long now." GOD's Decree. "Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won't be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once--and everywhere you look, blessings! Blessings like wine pouring off the mountains and hills.

Amos.9.13

"The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills.

Amos.9.13

"Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; The mountains shall drip with sweet wine, And all the hills shall flow with it.

Amos.9.13

"The time will come," says the LORD, "when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested. Then the terraced vineyards on the hills of Israel will drip with sweet wine!

Amos.9.14

And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

Amos.9.14

I'll make everything right again for my people Israel: "They'll rebuild their ruined cities. They'll plant vineyards and drink good wine. They'll work their gardens and eat fresh vegetables.

Amos.9.14

I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.

Amos.9.14

I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them.

Amos.9.14

I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again. They will plant vineyards and gardens; they will eat their crops and drink their wine.

Amos.9.15

And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.

Amos.9.15

And I'll plant them, plant them on their own land. They'll never again be uprooted from the land I've given them." GOD, your God, says so.

Amos.9.15

I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them," says the LORD your God.

Amos.9.15

I will plant them in their land, And no longer shall they be pulled up From the land I have given them," Says the LORD your God.

Amos.9.15

I will firmly plant them there in the land I have given them," says the LORD your God. "Then they will never be uprooted again."