English Standard Version | NET Bible |
1This is what the Lord GOD showed me: behold, he was forming locusts when the latter growth was just beginning to sprout, and behold, it was the latter growth after the king’s mowings. | 1The sovereign LORD showed me this: I saw him making locusts just as the crops planted late were beginning to sprout. (The crops planted late sprout after the royal harvest.) |
2When they had finished eating the grass of the land, I said, “O Lord GOD, please forgive! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!” | 2When they had completely consumed the earth's vegetation, I said, "Sovereign LORD, forgive Israel! How can Jacob survive? He is too weak!" |
3The LORD relented concerning this: “It shall not be,” said the LORD. | 3The LORD decided not to do this. "It will not happen," the LORD said. |
4This is what the Lord GOD showed me: behold, the Lord GOD was calling for a judgment by fire, and it devoured the great deep and was eating up the land. | 4The sovereign LORD showed me this: I saw the sovereign LORD summoning a shower of fire. It consumed the great deep and devoured the fields. |
5Then I said, “O Lord GOD, please cease! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!” | 5I said, "Sovereign LORD, stop! How can Jacob survive? He is too weak!" |
6The LORD relented concerning this: “This also shall not be,” said the Lord GOD. | 6The LORD decided not to do this. The sovereign LORD said, "This will not happen either." |
7This is what he showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. | 7He showed me this: I saw the sovereign One standing by a tin wall holding tin in his hand. |
8And the LORD said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass by them; | 8The LORD said to me, "What do you see, Amos?" I said, "Tin." The sovereign One then said, "Look, I am about to place tin among my people Israel. I will no longer overlook their sin. |
9the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.” | 9Isaac's centers of worship will become desolate; Israel's holy places will be in ruins. I will attack Jeroboam's dynasty with the sword." |
10Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words. | 10Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent this message to King Jeroboam of Israel: "Amos is conspiring against you in the very heart of the kingdom of Israel! The land cannot endure all his prophecies. |
11For thus Amos has said, “‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel must go into exile away from his land.’” | 11As a matter of fact, Amos is saying this: 'Jeroboam will die by the sword and Israel will certainly be carried into exile away from its land.'" |
12And Amaziah said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there, | 12Amaziah then said to Amos, "Leave, you visionary! Run away to the land of Judah! Earn your living and prophesy there! |
13but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.” | 13Don't prophesy at Bethel any longer, for a royal temple and palace are here!" |
14Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. | 14Amos replied to Amaziah, "I was not a prophet by profession. No, I was a herdsman who also took care of sycamore fig trees. |
15But the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ | 15Then the LORD took me from tending flocks and gave me this commission, 'Go! Prophesy to my people Israel!' |
16Now therefore hear the word of the LORD. “You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel, and do not preach against the house of Isaac.’ | 16So now listen to the LORD's message! You say, 'Don't prophesy against Israel! Don't preach against the family of Isaac!' |
17Therefore thus says the LORD: “‘Your wife shall be a prostitute in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided up with a measuring line; you yourself shall die in an unclean land, and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land.’” | 17"Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'Your wife will become a prostitute in the streets and your sons and daughters will die violently. Your land will be given to others and you will die in a foreign land. Israel will certainly be carried into exile away from its land.'" |
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