11 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“An enemy will overrun your land,
    pull down your strongholds
    and plunder your fortresses.(A)

12 This is what the Lord says:

“As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s(B) mouth
    only two leg bones or a piece of an ear,
so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued,
    with only the head of a bed
    and a piece of fabric[a] from a couch.[b](C)

13 “Hear this and testify(D) against the descendants of Jacob,” declares the Lord, the Lord God Almighty.

14 “On the day I punish(E) Israel for her sins,
    I will destroy the altars of Bethel;(F)
the horns(G) of the altar will be cut off
    and fall to the ground.
15 I will tear down the winter house(H)
    along with the summer house;(I)
the houses adorned with ivory(J) will be destroyed
    and the mansions(K) will be demolished,(L)
declares the Lord.(M)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Amos 3:12 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  2. Amos 3:12 Or Israelites be rescued, / those who sit in Samaria / on the edge of their beds / and in Damascus on their couches.

11 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.

12 Thus saith the Lord; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.

13 Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord God, the God of hosts,

14 That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.

15 And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the Lord.

Read full chapter