Amos 3

Known and accountable

1Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, people of Israel—against the whole family I brought up from the land of Egypt: 2“You alone have I known
among all the families of the earth.
That is why I will call you to account
for all your guilt.”

The lion has roared

3Do two people walk together
unless they have arranged to meet? 4Does a lion roar in the forest when it has no prey?
Does a young lion cry from its den
unless it has caught something? 5Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground
unless a snare is set for it?
Does a trap spring up from the ground
without catching anything? 6When a ram’s horn sounds in a city,
do the people not tremble?
When disaster strikes a city,
has the LORD not brought it about? 7The Lord GOD does nothing
without revealing his counsel
to his servants the prophets. 8A lion has roared—who will not fear?
The Lord GOD has spoken—who will not prophesy?

Witnesses to oppression

9Proclaim to the citadels of Ashdod
and the citadels in the land of Egypt:
“Gather on Samaria’s mountains
and see the great turmoil within her
and the oppression in her midst.” 10“They do not know how to do right,” declares the LORD,
“those who store up violence and plunder in their citadels.” 11So this is what the Lord GOD says:
“An enemy will surround the land,
pull down your strength,
and plunder your citadels.” 12This is what the LORD says:
“As a shepherd rescues from a lion’s mouth
two leg bones or a scrap of ear,
so will the people of Israel be rescued—
those who sit in Samaria
on a corner of a bed and on a Damascus couch.” 13“Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,”
declares the Lord GOD, the God of Armies. 14“On the day I call Israel to account for his rebellions,
I will also call Bethel’s altars to account.
The altar’s horns will be cut off
and fall to the ground. 15I will strike the winter house together with the summer house.
The ivory houses will perish,
and many houses will come to an end,” declares the LORD.