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 ^[1] was king of Israel.

2

He said: "The LORD roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds dry up, ^[2] and the top of Carmel withers."

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,

4

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

5

I will break down the gate of Damascus; I will destroy the king who is in ^[3] the Valley of Aven ^[4] and the one who holds the scepter in Beth Eden. The people of Aram will go into exile to Kir," says the LORD.

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,

7

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

8

I will destroy the king ^[5] 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.

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,

10

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

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, ^[6] because his anger raged continually and his fury flamed unchecked,

12

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

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,

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.

15

Her king ^[7] will go into exile, he and his officials together," says the LORD.

1. [1] Hebrew Joash, a variant of Jehoash
2. [2] Or shepherds mourn
3. [5] Or the inhabitants of
4. [5] Aven means wickedness.
5. [8] Or inhabitants
6. [11] Or sword and destroyed his allies
7. [15] Or Molech; Hebrew malcam