1 These are the words of Amos, who was among the shepherds from Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and also in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
2 He said,
"Yahweh will roar from Zion;
he will raise his voice from Jerusalem.
The pastures of the shepherds will mourn;
the top of Carmel will wither."
3 This is what Yahweh says:
"For three sins of Damascus,
even for four, I will not turn away punishment,
because they threshed Gilead
with sharp threshing sledges of iron.
4 I will send a fire into the house of Hazael,
and it will devour the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.
5 I will break the gate bars of Damascus
and cut off the man who rules over the Valley of Aven,
and also the man who holds the scepter in Beth Eden.
The people of Aram will go in captivity to Kir,"
says Yahweh.
6 This is what Yahweh says:
"For three sins of Gaza,
even for four, I will not turn away punishment,
because they carried away captive a whole people,
to hand them over to Edom.
7 I will send fire on the walls of Gaza,
and it will devour her fortresses.
8 I will cut off the man who lives in Ashdod
and the man who holds the scepter from Ashkelon.
I will turn my hand against Ekron,
and the rest of the Philistines will perish,"
says the Lord Yahweh.
9 This is what Yahweh says:
"For three sins of Tyre,
even for four, I will not turn away punishment,
because they had delivered up a whole people to Edom,
and they broke their covenant of brotherhood.
10 I will send fire on the walls of Tyre,
and it will devour her fortresses."
11 This is what Yahweh says,
"For three sins of Edom,
even for four, I will not turn away punishment,
because he pursued his brother with the sword
and cast off all pity.
His anger tore them apart continually,
and his wrath lasted forever.
12 I will send fire on Teman,
and it will devour the palaces of Bozrah."
13 This is what Yahweh says,
"For three sins of the people of Ammon,
even for four, I will not turn away punishment,
because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead,
that they may enlarge their borders.
14 I will light a fire in the walls of Rabbah,
and it will devour the palaces,
with a shout in the day of battle,
with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind.
15 Their king will go into captivity,
he and his officials together,"
says Yahweh.
This book is written in a poetic form. Because it was written by a farmer, it includes many references to agricultural concepts.
The phrase "For three sins of Judah, even for four," is used to begin each oracle. This is not intended to be a literal count but is an idiom indicating a large number of sins. (See: and sin)
God speaks through Amos using poetic language.
Tekoa is the name of a town or village in Judah, but this message is primarily to the northern kingdom of Israel. It seems that Amos was one of a group of shepherds who had left Tekoa to work in Israel, and while he was there at work, God gave him these words
If your language uses a word for "see" only in poetry or mostly to indicate seeing in a vision or dream, you might want to use it here.
The words "in the days of" is an idiom and refers to the time when each king reigned. Alternate translation: "when Uzziah was king of Judah, and also when Jeroboam son of Joash was king of Israel"
The assumed knowledge is that the original hearers would be aware of when a large earthquake had affected the area.
These two phrases share similar meanings. Together they emphasize that Yahweh shouts loudly as he prepares to judge the nation.
The author speaks of the voice of Yahweh as if it sounded like the roar of a lion or the roar of thunder.
This is the name of God that he revealed to his people in the Old Testament. See the translationWord page about Yahweh concerning how to translate this.
This is a poetic device. It does not mean that a specific number of sins had been committed, but it indicates that many sins had led to God's judgment.
Here "Damascus" represents the people of the city of Damascus. Alternate translation: "the people of Damascus"
Yahweh uses two negatives here to emphasize that he would punish them. Alternate translation: "I will certainly punish those people"
Yahweh speaks of how the people of Damascus treated the people of Gilead as if they had threshed grain with sharp iron tools or weapons.
Here "Gilead" represents the people of the region of Gilead. Alternate translation: "the people of Gilead"
Here Yahweh speaks of his judgment against the house of Hazael as if it were a consuming fire.
The word "house" is a metonym for the family that lives in the house. In this case it refers to Hazael's descendants, who were rulers of the country where Damascus was located.
Here Yahweh's judgment is spoken of as if it were a fire that was consuming the fortresses.
These are the names of men.
Yahweh continues his message of judgment on Damascus.
Here to "cut off" means either to destroy or to drive away, as one would cut a piece of cloth or cut a branch from a tree. Alternate translation: "destroy the man" or "drive away the man"
This is the name of a place that means "valley of wickedness." Possible meanings are 1) this is the name of an actual place in that region or 2) this is a metonym for Damascus or the surrounding region. Alternate translation: "the valley of wickedness"
This is a metonym for the ruler of that city or region. Alternate translation: "the ruler of"
This is the name of a place that means "house of pleasure." Possible meanings are 1) this is the name of an actual place in that region or 2) this is another metonym for Damascus or the surrounding region. Alternate translation: "the house of pleasure"
This is the name of a region from which the people of Aram originally came.
This is a poetic device. It does not mean that a specific number of sins had been committed, but it indicates that many sins had led to God's judgment. See how you translated these words in Amos 1:3.
Here "Gaza" represents the people of the region of Gaza. Alternate translation: "the people of Gaza"
Yahweh uses two negatives here to emphasize that he would punish them. See how you translated these words in [Amos 1:3]
"deliver them up to" or "sell them to"
Here "Edom" represents the people of the country of Edom. Alternate translation: "the people of Edom"
Here Yahweh's judgment is spoken of as if it were a fire that was consuming the fortresses.
Yahweh continues his message of judgment on Gaza.
Here to "cut off" means either to destroy or to drive away, as one would cut a piece of cloth or cut a branch from a tree. Alternate translation: "destroy the man" or "drive away the man"
This is a metonym for the ruler of that city or region. Alternate translation: "the ruler"
Here "hand" represents Yahweh's power that he would use against Ekron. Alternate translation: "I will strike Ekron" or "I will destroy Ekron"
Here "Ekron" represents the people of the city of Ekron. Alternate translation: "the people of Ekron"
This is a poetic device. It does not mean that a specific number of sins had been committed, but indicates that many sins had led to God's judgment. See how you translated these words in Amos 1:3.
Here "Tyre" represents the people of the city of Tyre. Alternate translation: "the people of Tyre"
Yahweh uses two negatives here to emphasize that he would punish them. See how you translated these words in [Amos 1:3]
"the agreement they made to treat you as brothers"
Here Yahweh's judgment is spoken of as if it were a fire that was consuming the fortresses.
This is a poetic device. It does not mean that a specific number of sins had been committed, but indicates that many sins had led to God's judgment. See how you translated these words in Amos 1:3.
Here "Edom" represents the people of the country of Edom. Alternate translation: "the people of Edom"
Yahweh uses two negatives here to emphasize that he would punish them. See how you translated these words in [Amos 1:3]
The assumed knowledge is that Esau, from whom the people of Edom were descended, was the brother of Jacob, from whom the people of Israel were descended. Here "his brother" represents the people of Israel. Alternate translation: "he pursued the people of Israel"
"showed them no mercy"
The abstract noun "anger" can be translated using the adjective "angry." Here it is a metonym for a person who is angry and who tears his victims apart. If your language has a word for "tear apart" that implies that the subject is an animal, you might want to use it here. Alternate translation: "He was angry and did great harm to his victims"
The abstract noun "wrath" can be translated using the adjective "furious." This is an exaggeration that is meant to express the ongoing nature of his wrath. Alternate translation: "he was always furious"
These are names of places. See:
Here Yahweh's judgment is spoken of as if it were a fire that was consuming the palaces.
This is a poetic device. It does not mean that a specific number of sins had been committed, but indicates that many sins had led to God's judgment. See how you translated these words in Amos 1:3.
Yahweh uses two negatives here to emphasize that he would punish them. See how you translated these words in [Amos 1:3]
"extend their boundaries" or "expand their territory"
Yahweh continues his message of judgment on the people of Ammon.
Here Yahweh's judgment is spoken of as if it were a fire that was consuming the palaces.
The fighting against the people of Ammon is spoken of as if it were a violent storm. Alternate translation: "and the fighting will be like a great storm"
These are two kinds of violent storms.
a strong wind that spins very quickly as it moves and can cause damage
The abstract noun "captivity" can be translated as the verb "capture." This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: "Their enemies will capture their king and take him away as a prisoner"
1 This is what Yahweh says:
"For three sins of Moab,
even for four, I will not turn away punishment,
because he burned the bones
of the king of Edom to lime.
2 I will send fire on Moab,
and it will devour the fortresses of Kerioth.
Moab will die in an uproar,
with shouting and the sound of the ram's horn.
3 I will destroy the judge in her,
and I will kill all the princes with him,"
says Yahweh.
4 This is what Yahweh says:
"For three sins of Judah,
even for four, I will not turn away punishment,
because they rejected the law of Yahweh
and did not keep his statutes.
Their lies caused them to go astray,
after which their fathers had also walked.
5 I will send fire on Judah,
and it will devour the fortresses of Jerusalem."
6 This is what Yahweh says:
"For three sins of Israel,
even for four, I will not turn away punishment,
because they sold the innocent for silver
and the needy for a pair of sandals.
7 They trample on the heads of the poor
as people trample on dust on the ground;
they push the oppressed away.
A man and his father go to the same girl
and so profane my holy name.
8 They lie down beside every altar
on clothes taken as pledges,
and in the house of their God
they drink the wine of those
who have been forced to pay a fine.
9 Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them,
whose height was like the height of cedars;
he was strong as the oaks.
Yet I destroyed his fruit above
and his roots below.
10 Also, I brought you up out of the land of Egypt
and led you forty years in the wilderness
to possess the land of the Amorites.
11 I raised up prophets from among your sons
and Nazirites from your young men.
Is it not so, people of Israel?—
this is Yahweh's declaration.
12 But you persuaded the Nazirites to drink wine
and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.
13 Look, I will crush you
as a cart that is full of grain can crush someone.
14 Escape will perish from the swift;
the strong will not add to his own strength;
neither will the mighty save himself.
15 The archer will not stand;
the fast runner will not escape;
the horseman will not save himself.
16 Even the bravest warriors
will flee naked in that day—
this is Yahweh's declaration."
This chapter consists of oracles against Moab and Judah by using poetic language and imagery. But the UDB translates it using prose. If possible, translate this chapter as poetry, but you may translate as narrative.
You will notice that the phrase "For three sins of Judah, even for four," is used to begin each of these oracles. This is not intended to be a literal count but is an idiom indicating a large number of sins. (See: and sin)
This is a poetic device. It does not mean that a specific number of sins had been committed, but indicates that many sins had led to God's judgment. See how you translated these words in Amos 1:3.
This represents the Moabite people. Alternate translation: "the people of Moab"
Yahweh uses two negatives here to emphasize that he would punish them. See how you translated these words in [Amos 1:3]
The word "he" refers to Moab. Alternate translation: "the people of Moab burned the bones"
"to ashes"
Yahweh continues his message of judgment on the people of Moab.
This is the name of a city or town.
Here "Moab" represents the people of Moab. Alternate translation: "The people of Moab will die"
An uproar is a very loud noise.
"the ruler of Moab"
"all the officials" or "all the leaders"
This is a poetic device. It does not mean that a specific number of sins had been committed, but indicates that many sins had led to God's judgment. See how you translated these words in Amos 1:3.
This represents the people of Judah. Alternate translation: "the people of Judah"
Yahweh uses two negatives here to emphasize that he will punish them. See how you translated these words in [Amos 1:3]
This expression here probably refers to worshiping false gods or idols. Alternate translation: "Their worship of idols"
Worshiping false gods is spoken of as if people were walking behind them.
Here Yahweh's judgment is spoken of as if it were a fire that was consuming the fortresses.
This is a poetic device. It does not meaan that a specific number of sins had been committed, but indicates that many of sins had led to God's judgment. See how you translated these words in Amos 1:3.
This represents the Israelite people. Alternate translation: "the people of Israel"
Yahweh uses two negatives here to emphasize that he would punish them. See how you translated these words in [Amos 1:3]
This refers to innocent people in general. Alternate translation: "innocent people"
This refers to needy people in general. Alternate translation: "needy people"
The word "they" in these verses refers to the people of Israel.
Yahweh continues his message of judgment on the people of Israel.
How the people of Israel treated the poor is compared to how people step heavily on the ground
repeatedly step heavily or roughly
This refers to poor people in general. Alternate translation: "poor people"
This idiom means they refused to listen when the oppressed people said they were being treated unfairly
This refers to oppressed people in general. Alternate translation: "oppressed people"
This is a polite way of talking about having sexual relations. Alternate translation: "have sexual relations with the same girl" or "lie with the same girl"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "those whom they forced to pay a penalty"
The words "them" and "you" in these verses both refer to the people of Israel.
Yahweh continues his message of judgment on the people of Israel.
This is an exaggeration. It describes how tall and strong the Amorite people were and compares them to the tallest and strongest trees in that region. Alternate translation: "who were tall and strong like great trees"
cedar trees
oak trees
How Yahweh completely destroyed the Amorites is pictured as a tree being destroyed from top to bottom. Alternate translation: "Yet I destroyed them completely"
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The words "your" and "you" in these verses refer to the people of Israel.
Yahweh continues his message of judgment on the people of Israel.
"appointed"
Yahweh asks this question to emphasize what he has said. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "You people of Israel certainly know that what I have said is true!"
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. Alternate translation: "this is what Yahweh has declared" or "this is what I, Yahweh, have declared"
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The word "you" in these verses refers to the people of Israel.
Yahweh continues his message of judgment on the people of Israel.
This alerts the reader to pay attention to what follows. Alternate translation: "Listen" or "Pay attention to what I am about to tell you"
Yahweh compares his judgment on the people of Israel to crushing them with something very heavy.
Possible meanings are 1) even people who usually can run fast will be unable to escape, or 2) there will be no safe place to which even fast runners can escape.
These adjectives refer to people in general. Alternate translation: "Swift people ... strong people ... mighty people" or "The strong person ... the strong person ... the mighty person"
Yahweh continues his message of judgment on the people of Israel.
Here "stand" means to keep one's place in battle.
The implied information is that the fast runner will not escape from his enemies. Alternate translation: "the fast runner will be captured"
Possible meanings are 1) this is a metonym for "run away without his weapons" or 2) this is meant literally as "run away wearing no clothes"
"at that time"
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated this in [Amos 2:11]
1 Hear this word that Yahweh has spoken against you, people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt:
2 "I have chosen only you
from all the families of the earth.
Therefore I will punish you
for all your iniquities."
3 Will two walk together
unless they have made an appointment?
4 Will a lion roar in the forest
when he has no prey?
Will a young lion growl from his den
if he has caught nothing?
5 Can a bird fall in a trap on the ground
when no bait is set for him?
Will a trap spring up from the ground
when it has not caught anything?
6 If a ram's horn sounds in a city,
will the people not tremble?
If disaster overtakes a city,
has Yahweh not sent it?
7 Surely the Lord Yahweh will do nothing
unless he reveals his plan
to his servants the prophets.
8 The lion has roared;
who will not fear?
The Lord Yahweh has spoken;
who will not prophesy?
9 Proclaim this in the fortresses at Ashdod,
and in the fortresses in the land of Egypt;
say, "Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria
and see what great tumults are in her,
and what oppression is in her.
10 For they do not know how to do right—
this is Yahweh's declaration—
They store up violence
and devastation in their fortresses."
11 Therefore, this is what the Lord Yahweh says:
"An enemy will surround the land,
and pull down your strongholds
and plunder your fortresses."
12 This is what Yahweh says:
"As the shepherd rescues out of the mouth of the lion
two legs only, or a piece of an ear;
so will the people of Israel who live in Samaria be rescued;
they will be left with only the corner of a couch
or a piece of a bed."
13 Hear and testify against the house of Jacob— this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh, the God of hosts:
14 "For in the day that I punish the sins of Israel,
I will also punish the altars of Bethel.
The horns of the altar will be cut off
and fall to the ground.
15 I will destroy the winter house
with the summer house.
The houses of ivory will perish,
and the large houses will vanish—
this is Yahweh's declaration."
Amos continues to use poetic form in this chapter to prophesy the disaster coming to the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. (See: prophet)
This chapter begins with a number of rhetorical questions. The last question provides the reader with some answers: "Yahweh has certainly spoken through his prophets. So listen to them." The answer to these rhetorical questions have the expected response of "no" because they are things that are not expected to happen. The writer is helping the reader to conclude that God uses the prophets to speak his message.
"Hear this message" or "Listen to this message"
"this word that Yahweh has spoken about you ... about the whole family" or "Yahweh's message about you ... about the whole family"
These two phrases refer to the same group of people. The people God is speaking to are the descendants of those he had taken out of Egypt.
Here "the whole family" represents to the whole nation. The people of Israel were all descendants of Jacob. Alternate translation: "the whole nation" or "the whole clan"
This implies that they should have obeyed him. This can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: "I have chosen only you from all the families of the earth, so you should have obeyed me"
Here "families" represents nations or people groups. Alternate translation: "all the nations of the earth" or "all the clans on the earth"
It can be stated clearly that they did not obey God. Alternate translation: "But you did not obey me. Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities"
Amos uses the questions in verses 3-6 to present examples of things that people already know about what causes things to happen and what are the results of things that happen.
Amos uses this question to remind people of what they already know about what must happen in order for two people to walk together. It can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "Two people will walk together only if they have first agreed to walk together." or "You know that two people will walk together only if they have made an appointment to do that."
Amos uses this question to remind people of what they already know about what causes a lion to roar. The question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "A lion will roar in the forest only when he has a prey."
Amos uses this question to remind people of what they already know about what causes a lion to growl. It can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "A young lion will growl from his den only if he has caught something."
Amos uses the questions in verses 3-6 to present examples of things that people already know about what causes things to happen and what are the results of things that happen.
Amos uses this question to remind people of what they already know about what causes a bird to fall into a trap. This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "A bird can fall into a trap on the ground only when bait has been set for him."
Amos uses this question to remind people of what they already know about what causes a trap to spring up. This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "A trap will spring up from the ground only when it has caught something."
This refers to a trap closing. When an animal steps on a trap, the trap closes and the animal cannot get out of it. Alternate translation: "Will a trap close"
Amos uses this question to remind people of what they already know about what happens when a ram's horn sounds. This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "When the ram's horn sounds in the city, the people will tremble." or "When the ram's horn sounds in the city, we expect that people will tremble."
The purpose of sounding the ram's horn is to warn people that enemies are about to attack the city. Alternate translation: "If someone blows the ram's horn in the city to warn the people about an enemy attack" or "If the warning ram's horn is blown in the city"
The reason for trembling can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: "tremble because they are afraid" or "be afraid of the enemy and tremble"
Amos uses this question to remind the people of what they should already know about what causes a disaster. This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "If disaster overtakes a city, Yahweh has sent it." or "If disaster overtakes a city, we know that Yahweh has sent it."
Something terrible happening to a city is spoken of as if disaster overtakes it.
The relationship between this sentence and the rhetorical questions in [Amos 3:3]
This can be stated positively. Alternate translation: "Surely the Lord Yahweh will reveal ... prophets before he does anything"
"his secret plan"
Amos uses this question to remind people of what people do when a lion roars. This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "The lion has roared; so we know that everyone will be afraid." or "The lion has roared; so of course everyone will be afraid."
Amos uses this question to emphasize what people should already know about what prophets do when God speaks. This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "The Lord Yahweh has spoken; so we know that the prophets will prophesy." or "The Lord Yahweh has spoken; so of course the prophets will prophesy."
This command is to Israel's enemies in Ashdod and Egypt.
The word "her" refers to the city of Samaria. Cities were often spoken of as if they were women.
Here "great tumults is in her" refers to people's fear because of the fighting and rioting there. The word "tumults" can be translated with a verbal phrase to make this meaning explicit. Alternate translation: "how the people in Samaria riot" or "how the people in Samaria fight against one another"
Here "oppression is in her" refers to leaders in Samaria oppressing the people. The abstract noun "oppress" can be stated as "oppress" or "cause to suffer." Alternate translation: "how the leaders oppress people" or "and how they cause people to suffer"
The word "they" refers to the people of Samaria.
"do what is right"
Here "violence" and "devastation" represent things they have taken by being violent and destructive. Alternate translation: "They store up things that they have violently stolen from others"
It can be stated clearly who God was saying this to. Alternate translation: "Therefore, this is what the Lord Yahweh says to the people of Israel living in Samaria"
"An enemy army will surround the land"
"steal all the things in your fortresses"
The Lord compares the people of Israel being rescued with an unsuccessful attempt to rescue an animal from a lion. They will not be completely rescued.
It can be stated clearly that the shepherd tries to rescue the whole animal. Alternate translation: "As the shepherd tries to rescue an animal from the lion's mouth, but is able to save only two legs or a piece of an ear"
Here the phrases "the shepherd" and "the lion" refer to any shepherd or lion. Alternate translation: "As a shepherd ... a lion"
This phrase shows that they will not be completely rescued. Almost all of their possessions will be stolen. This passage in Hebrew is difficult to understand, and some modern versions interpret it differently.
This is a soft chair big enough to lie down on.
The word "house" is a metonym for the family that lives in the house. In this case it refers to Jacob's descendants. They were the people of Israel. Alternate translation: "the descendants of Jacob"
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated the similar phrase "this is Yahweh's declaration" in [Amos 2:11]
"when I punish the sins of Israel"
People sinned against God by worshiping false gods at their altars. Here "punish the altars" represents punishing the people by destroying their altars. Alternate translation: "I will also destroy the altars at Bethel"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Your enemies will cut off the horns of the altars, and the horns will fall to the ground"
People worshiped false gods at their altars. At the top corners of the altars there were pieces of metal shaped like bull horns. These horns were a symbol of the strength of their gods.
Some of the wealthy people had two houses: one that they lived in during the winter and one that they lived in during the summer. This refers to any winter and summer houses. Alternate translation: "the houses they live in during the winter and the houses they live in during the summer"
God speaks of the houses being destroyed as if they were alive and would die. Alternate translation: "The houses of ivory will be destroyed" or "The houses of ivory will collapse"
"the houses that are decorated with ivory." This refers to houses that had decorations made of ivory on the walls and furniture. Ivory was very expensive, so only the wealthy people had things decorated with ivory.
the teeth and horns of large animals
"the large houses will exist no more." Here "vanish" represents being destroyed. Alternate translation: "the large houses will be destroyed"
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated this in [Amos 2:11]
1 Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan,
you who are in the mountain of Samaria,
you who oppress the poor, you who crush the needy,
you who say to your husbands, "Bring us drinks."
2 The Lord Yahweh has sworn by his holiness,
"Look, the days will come on you
when they will take you away with hooks,
the last of you with fishhooks.
3 You will go out through the breaks in the city wall,
each one of you going straight through it,
and you will be thrown out toward Harmon—
this is Yahweh's declaration.
4 "Go to Bethel and sin,
to Gilgal and multiply transgression,
bring your sacrifices every morning,
your tithes every three days.
5 Offer a thanksgiving sacrifice with bread;
proclaim freewill offerings; announce them,
for this is what you love to do,
you people of Israel—
this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh.
6 I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities
and lack of bread in all your places.
Yet you have not returned to me—
this is Yahweh's declaration.
7 I also withheld rain from you
when there were still three months to the harvest.
I caused it to rain on one city,
and caused it not to rain on another city.
One piece of land was rained on,
but the piece of land where it did not rain dried up.
8 Two or three cities staggered to another city to drink water,
but were not satisfied.
Yet you have not returned to me—
this is Yahweh's declaration.
9 I afflicted you with blight and mildew.
The multitude of your gardens,
your vineyards, your fig trees, and your olive trees—
the locusts devoured them all.
Yet you have not returned to me—
this is Yahweh's declaration.
10 I sent a plague on you
as on Egypt.
I killed your young men with the sword,
along with the captivity of your horses,
and made the stench of your camp come up
to your nostrils.
Yet you have not returned to me—
this is Yahweh's declaration.
11 I overthrew cities among you,
as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
You were like a burning stick snatched out of the fire.
Yet you have not returned to me—
this is Yahweh's declaration.
12 Therefore I will do something terrible to you, Israel;
and because I will do something terrible to you,
prepare to meet your God, Israel!
13 For, look, he who forms the mountains
also creates the wind,
reveals his thoughts to mankind,
makes the dawn become darkness,
and treads on the high places of the earth.
Yahweh, God of hosts, is his name."
This chapter is written in poetic form and is about the people's refusal to listen to Yahweh even as he tries to point them back to himself.
This chapter contains a repeated sentence: "Yet you have not returned to me—this is Yahweh's declaration." Please make sure this sentence is translated the same way each time to show the repetition. This repetition produces a list of sins Yahweh is mounting against his people. (See: sin and peopleofgod)
Amos speaks to the women of Israel who live in Samaria as if they were well-fed cows. Alternate translation: "you wealthy women who live in the mountains of Samaria, you who are like the well-fed cows of Bashan"
The phrase "the poor" refers to poor people. Alternate translation: "you who oppress poor people"
Hear "crush" is a metaphor that represents treating people badly. The phrase "the needy" refers to people who need help. Alternate translation: "you who treat needy people badly" or "you who hurt needy people"
This means that Yahweh promised that he would do something, and he assured people that he would do what he promised because he is holy.
The word "you" refers to the wealthy women of Israel who lived in Samaria, but also includes men.
A time in the future when bad things will happen to the people is spoken of as if those days will attack the people. The word "they" refers to their enemies. Alternate translation: "There will be a time when your enemies will take you away with hooks"
These two phrases mean basically the same thing and emphasize that the enemy will capture the people like people catch fish. Alternate translation: "they will capture you as people capture animals, and they take you away" or "they will defeat you and cruelly force you to go away with them"
God continues to speak to the people of Israel.
places where the enemy had broken down the city wall to enter
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they will throw you out toward Harmon" or "your enemies will force you to leave the city and go toward Harmon"
This is either the name of a place that we do not know, or it refers to Mount Hermon. Some modern versions interpret it in that way.
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated these words in [Amos 2:11]
God gives several commands in verse 4, but he does so to show that he is angry
God continues to speak to the people of Israel.
People would go to Bethel and Gilgal to make sacrifices to God, but they kept sinning anyway. God makes these commands to show that he is angry with them for doing these things. These commands can be expressed as statements. Alternate translation: "You go to Bethel to worship, but you sin. You go to Gilgal to worship, but you sin even more"
God makes these commands in order to show the people that he is angry that even though they do these things, they continue to sin against him in other ways. These commands can be expressed as statements. Alternate translation: "You bring your sacrifices ... every three days, but it does you no good."
Possible meanings are 1) on the third day or 3) every third day. Some versions have "every three years," because the Israelites were supposed to bring their tithes to God once every three years.
God makes these commands in order to show the people that even though they do these things, he is angry because they continue to sin against him in other ways. Use the form in your language that shows that they will do these things no matter what Yahweh says, but these things will do them no good.
"boast about them"
Yahweh rebukes them for being proud about their offerings and sacrifices. They think that God should be pleased with them, but he is not. Alternate translation: "for this is what you love to do, you people of Israel. But it does not please me"
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated the similar phrase "this is Yahweh's declaration" in [Amos 2:11]
God continues to speak to the people of Israel.
Here having clean teeth represents having no food in the mouth to make the teeth dirty. Alternate translation: "I caused you to starve"
Giving them "lack of bread" represents causing them to lack bread, and "bread" represents food in general. Alternate translation: "I caused you not to have enough food"
Returning to God represents submitting again to him. Alternate translation: "you have not submitted again to me"
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated these words in [Amos 2:11]
"I prevented the rain from falling on your crops"
It can be stated clearly that the people needed the rain. Alternate translation: "when there were still three months to the harvest and your crops needed the rain"
This can be stated in active form. The phrase "One piece of land" represents any piece of land." Alternate translation: "It rained on one piece of land" or "It rained on some pieces of land"
This refers to any piece of land where it did not rain. Alternate translation: "the pieces of land where it did not rain"
Here "cities" represents the people of those cities. Alternate translation: "The people of two or three cities staggered"
Returning to God represents submitting again to him. See how you translated this in [Amos 4:6]
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated these words in [Amos 2:11]
Here "afflicted you" represents afflicting their crops. Alternate translation: "I afflicted your crops with blight and mildew" or "I destroyed your crops with blight and mildew"
This is a disease that dries and kills plants. It is caused by the hot wind from the desert.
This is another disease that kills plants.
"I sent a plague on you as I did on Egypt" or "I sent a plague on you as I sent plagues on Egypt"
"I caused terrible things to happen to you"
Here "the sword" represents battle. God killed them by sending enemies to fight against them. Alternate translation: "I made your enemies kill your men in battle"
Possible meanings are 1) God also killed the horses that the Israelites had captured from other people, or 2) God also captured the Israelites' horses.
A stench is a bad smell. The stench coming up to their nostrils represents them smelling something terrible. It can be stated clearly that the smell was from the dead bodies of those who were killed. Alternate translation: "I made you smell the terrible odor of the dead bodies in your camp"
Returning to God represents submitting again to him. See how you translated this in [Amos 4:6]
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated these words in [Amos 2:11]
God speaks of those who survived the plague and war as if they were a burning stick that someone pulled out of a fire. Alternate translation: "Some of you survived, like a burning stick that someone pulls out of a fire"
God continues to speak to the people of Israel.
God says this to warn the people of Israel that he will judge them. Alternate translation: "prepare to meet me, your God"
It is not clear whether Amos is speaking about God, or God is speaking about himself. If God is speaking about himself, it can be translated with the words "I" and "me." Alternate translation: "I who form the mountains ... reveal my thoughts ... is my name"
Possible meanings are 1) God causes the day to be very dark with thick clouds. Alternate translation: "makes the morning dark" or 2) God causes time to pass, so every day becomes night. Alternate translation: "makes morning and evening"
God ruling over all the earth is spoken of as if he walks on the highest places of the earth. Alternate translation: "rules over all the earth" or "rules over even the highest places of the earth"
By declaring his full name, Yahweh is declaring his power and authority to do these things. Your language may have a way for people to do this.
1 Hear this word that I take up as a lament over you, house of Israel.
2 The virgin Israel has fallen;
she will rise no more;
she is abandoned on her land;
there is no one to raise her up.
3 For this is what the Lord Yahweh says:
"The city that went out with a thousand
will have a hundred remaining,
and the one that went out with a hundred
will have ten remaining for the house of Israel."
4 For this is what Yahweh says to the house of Israel:
"Seek me and live!
5 Do not seek Bethel;
nor enter Gilgal;
do not journey to Beersheba.
For Gilgal will surely go into captivity,
and Bethel will become nothing.
6 Seek Yahweh and live,
or he will break out like fire
in the house of Joseph.
It will devour,
and there will be no one to quench it in Bethel.
7 Those people turn justice into a bitter thing
and throw righteousness down to the ground!"
8 God made the Pleiades and Orion;
he turns deep darkness into the morning;
he makes the day dark with night
and calls for the waters of the sea;
he pours them out on the surface of the earth.
Yahweh is his name!
9 He brings sudden destruction on the strong
so that destruction comes on the fortresses.
10 They hate anyone who reproves them in the city gate,
and they abhor anyone who speaks with integrity.
11 Because you trample down the poor
and seize a tribute of wheat from him—
although you have built houses of worked stone,
you will not live in them.
You have planted delightful vineyards,
but you will not drink their wine.
12 For I know how many are your offenses
and how mighty are your sins.
you who afflict the just, take bribes,
and turn aside the needy in the city gate.
13 Therefore any prudent person is silent at such a time,
for it is an evil time.
14 Seek good and not evil,
so that you may live.
So Yahweh, the God of hosts, will really be with you,
as you say he is.
15 Hate evil, love good,
establish justice in the city gate.
Perhaps Yahweh, the God of hosts, will be gracious
to the remnant of Joseph.
16 Therefore, this is what Yahweh says, the God of hosts, the Lord,
"Wailing will be in all the squares,
and they will say in all the streets,
'Woe! Woe!'
They will call the farmers to mourning
and those who know lamentation to wailing.
17 In all vineyards there will be wailing,
for I will pass through your midst,"
says Yahweh.
18 Woe to you who desire
the day of Yahweh!
Why do you long for the day of Yahweh?
It will be darkness and not light,
19 as when a man flees from a lion
and a bear meets him,
or he goes in a house and puts his hand on the wall
and a snake bites him.
20 Will not the day of Yahweh be darkness and not light?
Gloom and no brightness?
21 "I hate, I despise your festivals,
I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them,
neither will I look at the fellowship offerings
of your fattened animals.
23 Remove from me the noise of your songs;
I will not listen to the sound of your lutes.
24 Instead, let justice flow like water,
and righteousness like a constantly flowing stream.
25 Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings
in the wilderness for forty years, house of Israel?
26 You have lifted up the images of Sikkuth, your king,
and Kaiwan, your star god,
which you made for yourselves.
27 Therefore I will exile you beyond Damascus,"
says Yahweh, whose name is the God of hosts.
This chapter continues to be written in a poetic format and foretells the destruction of the kingdom of Israel.
This chapter refers to various places in land of Israel
The "city gate" is mentioned several times. This was a place where people would go with legal and financial issues.
The word "house" is a metonym for the family that lives in the house. In this case it refers to Israel's descendants. Alternate translation: "you people of Israel" or "you Israelite people group"
The phrase "The virgin Israel" represents the nation of Israel. The nation of Israel being destroyed and having no other nation to help them become strong again is spoken of as if it were a young woman who has fallen and has no one to raise her up. Alternate translation: "The nation of Israel is like a woman who has fallen ... no one to help her get up"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "People have abandoned her" or "they have left her"
These phrases refer to any cities that sent out large numbers of soldiers. Alternate translation: "Cities that went out with a thousand ... cities that went out with a hundred"
The phrases "a thousand" and "a hundred" refer to a thousand soldiers and a hundred soldiers.
"The city that went out" represents the soldiers of that city going out. It can be stated clearly why they went out. Alternate translation: "The city out of which a thousand soldiers went to fight" or "The city that sent out a thousand soldiers to fight"
"will have a hundred soldiers who have not been killed" or "will have only a hundred soldiers still alive." Here "remaining" refers to not being killed by the enemy.
Possible meanings are 1) "to defend the house of Israel" or 2) "belonging to the house of Israel"
The word "house" is a metonym for the family that lives in the house. In this case it refers to Israel's descendants. See how you translated this in [Amos 5:1]
The word "house" is a metonym for the family that lives in the house. In this case it refers to Israel's descendants. See how you translated this in [Amos 5:1]
Here "Seek me" represents asking God for help. Alternate translation: "Ask me for help"
Here "seek Bethel" represents going to Bethel to ask for help. Alternate translation: "Do not go to Bethel to ask for help"
"and do not enter Gilgal"
Here "Gilgal" represents the people of Gilgal, and going into captivity refers to being captured and taken away. Alternate translation: "For the people of Gilgal will surely be captured and taken away" or "For your enemies will surely capture the people of Gilgal and take them away"
Here "become nothing" represents being destroyed. Alternate translation: "Bethel will be completely destroyed" or "enemies will completely destroy Bethel"
Here "Seek Yahweh" represents asking him for help. Alternate translation: "Ask Yahweh for help" or "Ask me, Yahweh, for help"
Here "break out like a fire" represents destroying things as fire destroys things. Alternate translation: "he will become like a fire that breaks out suddenly and destroys everything" or "he will destroy everything like a fire"
This phrase is a metonym for the descendants of Joseph. Here it represents the northern kingdom of Israel, whose two largest tribes were the descendants of Joseph. Alternate translation: "the descendants of Joseph" or "Israel"
The word "it" refers to the fire, and "devour" represents destroying everything. God destroying everything is spoken of as if a fire were to destroy everything. Alternate translation: "It will destroy everything" or "He will destroy everything"
"there will no one to stop it" or "there will be no one to stop him from destroying everything"
Here "a bitter thing" represents actions that harm people, and "turn justice into a bitter thing" represents harming people rather than doing for them what is just. Alternate translation: "say that they are doing what is just, but instead they harm people" or "refuse to do what is just and harm people instead"
This represents treating righteousness as if it were worthless. Alternate translation: "treat righteousness as though it were as unimportant as dirt" or "you despise what is righteous"
People saw patterns in the stars in the sky and gave names to them. These are two of those patterns. Alternate translation: "the stars" or "the groups of stars"
"he makes the night become morning, and he makes the day become night." This refers to causing the times of the day.
This represents God causing the sea water to fall on the earth as rain. Alternate translation: "he takes the waters of the sea and makes them rain down on the surface of the earth"
By declaring his name, Yahweh is declaring his power and authority to do these things.
The abstract noun "destruction" can be translated with the verb "destroy." The phrase "the strong" refers to strong people, specifically soldiers. Alternate translation: "He suddenly destroys the strong people" or "He suddenly destroys the soldiers"
The abstract noun "destruction" can be translated with the verb "destroy." Alternate translation: "so that the fortresses are destroyed" or "and he destroys the fortresses"
"The people of Israel hate anyone"
Amos stops referring to the Israelites
This metaphor probably refers to forcing the poor to give money and receive nothing in return so that they cannot become wealthy. Alternate translation: "you keep the poor from becoming wealthy" or "you force the poor to pay high rent"
"poor people"
Here Amos specifies that the Israelites ("the house of Joseph," Amos 5:6) force the poor to give as taxes part of the crops the poor have harvested.
"cut stones" or "stones that people have cut"
The word "their" refers to the vineyards. This may imply that no one will make the wine, or even that there will not be enough good grapes to make wine. Alternate translation: "you will not drink the wine that is made from the grapes in your vineyards"
This is a list of some of their sins.
The word "just" is a nominal adjective that refers to just people. Alternate translation: "just people" or "righteous people"
"let people pay you to do bad things" or "let people pay you to lie about people"
Here "turn aside the needy" represents telling the needy people to leave. It can be made clear why the needy were at the city gate. Alternate translation: "do not allow poor people to bring their cases to the judges in the city gate"
The word "needy" is a nominal adjective that refers to people who are in need. Alternate translation: "people in need"
Those who do not want the evil people to harm them will not speak out against the evil deeds. Alternate translation: "wise people do not speak about the evil things people are doing"
Here "an evil time" represents a time when people are evil and do evil deeds. Alternate translation: "for it is a time when people are evil" or "for people do evil things"
Here "Seek good" represents choosing to do what good. "Good" and "evil" represent good actions and evil actions. Alternate translation: "Choose to do what is good and not what is evil"
"Hate evil actions, and love good actions." Here "good" and "evil" represent good actions and evil actions.
Here "establish justice" represents making sure that justice is done. Alternate translation: "make sure that justice is done in the city gates" or "make sure that the judges make just decisions in the city gates"
City gates were where business transactions occurred and judgments were made, because city walls were thick enough to have gateways that produced cool shade from the hot sun Alternate translation: "in your courts"
Here "remnant" refers to people who are still living in Israel after the others are killed or taken away as captives. Here "Joseph" represents the northern kingdom of Israel, whose two largest tribes were the descendants of Joseph. See how you translated "house of Joseph" in [Amos 5:6]
"this is what Yahweh, the God of hosts, the Lord says"
"People will wail in all the town squares"
long, loud, sad cries
broad open places in the town where people gather
The phrase "they will call" is understood from the beginning of the sentence. Alternate translation: "they will call those who know lamentation to wailing"
"professional mourners" or "those whom people pay to mourn"
"to wail"
God speaks of punishing the people as if he were to come and punish them while walking through the group of them. Alternate translation: "I will come and punish you" or "I will punish you"
God uses this question to rebuke the people for saying that they want the day of Yahweh to be soon. This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "You long for the day of Yahweh." or "You should not long for the day of Yahweh!"
Here "darkness" represents a time when disasters happen, and "light" represents a time when good things happen. Alternate translation: "It will be a time of darkness and disaster, not of light and blessing" or "On that day there will be disasters, not blessings"
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This question emphasizes that bad things will happen then. It can be expressed as a statement. Alternate translation: "The day of Yahweh will certainly be darkness and not light!" or "Bad things, not good things, will certainly happen on the day of Yahweh!"
The words "Will not the day of Yahweh be" is understood from the previous sentence. Like the previous question, it emphasizes that terrible things, not good things, will happen on the day of Yahweh. It can be expressed as a statement. Alternate translation: "It will be a time when terrible things, not good things, happen.
The word "despise" is a strong word for "hate." Together the two words emphasize the intensity of Yahweh's hatred for their religious festivals. Alternate translation: "I hate your festivals very much"
"Your solemn assemblies do not please me at all"
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This speaks of the noise of songs as if it could be put somewhere else. It represents stopping singing. Alternate translation: "Stop singing your noisy songs"
unpleasant sounds
This represents causing there to be much justice and righteous. Alternate translation: "let there be so much justice that it is like flowing water, and let there be so much righteousness that it is like a constantly flowing stream" or "let justice abound like a flood, and let righteousness abound like a stream that never stops"
Possible meanings are 1) God uses this question to rebuke them because they did not offer sacrifices. Alternate translation: "You did not bring me sacrifices ... Israel." or 2) God uses this question to remind them that the sacrifices were not the most important part about their relationship. Alternate translation: "You did not have to bring me sacrifices ... Israel."
God speaks as though the Israelites he is speaking to were part of the group that wandered in the wilderness. Alternate translation: "Did your ancestors bring"
The word "house" is a metonym for the family that lives in the house. In this case it refers to Israel's descendants. See how you translated it in Amos 5:1. Alternate translation: "you people of Israel" or "you Israelite people group"
Here "lifted up the images" represents worshiping them. Alternate translation: "You have worshiped the images of Sikkuth ... and Kaiwan"
These are the names of two false gods. The people had made images to represent them.
Some versions write this as "Kiyyun."
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1 Woe to those who are at ease in Zion,
and to those who are secure in the hill country of Samaria,
the notable men of the most important of the nations,
to whom the house of Israel comes for help!
2 Your leaders say, "Go to Kalneh and look;
from there go to Hamath, the great city;
then go down to Gath of the Philistines.
Are they better than your two kingdoms?
Is their border larger than your border?"
3 Woe to those who put off the day of disaster
and make the throne of violence come near.
4 They lie down on beds of ivory
and lounge on their couches.
They eat lambs from the flock
and calves from the stall.
5 They sing foolish songs to the music of the lute;
they improvise on instruments as David did.
6 They drink wine from bowls
and anoint themselves with the finest oils,
but they do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
7 So they will now go into exile with the first exiles,
and the feasts of those who lounge about will pass away.
8 "I, the Lord Yahweh, have sworn by myself—
this is the declaration of Yahweh, the God of hosts,
I detest the pride of Jacob;
I hate his fortresses.
Therefore I will deliver up the city
with all that is in it."
9 It will come about that if ten men remain in one house, they will all die. 10 When his relative or the one who burns him takes up the bones from the house—when he says to the person in the inner room of the house, "Is there anyone with you?" that person will say, "No one." Then he will say, "Be quiet, for we must not mention Yahweh's name."
11 For, look, Yahweh will give a command,
and the big house will be smashed to pieces,
and the little house to bits.
12 Do horses run on the rocky cliffs?
Does one plow there with oxen?
Yet you have turned justice into poison
and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness—
13 you who rejoice over Lo Debar,
who say, "Have we not taken Karnaim by our own strength?"
14 "But look, I will raise up against you a nation,
house of Israel—this is the declaration of Yahweh, the God of hosts.
They will afflict you
from Lebo Hamath to the brook of the Arabah."
This chapter continues to be written in poetic style except for verses 9-10, which are in prose. These two verses contain many interested features.
Verses 9-10 will probably be difficult to translate because the situation is vague and details don't appear to align easily. It is appropriate to translate these verses with some ambiguity remaining. It may be helpful to read many different versions prior to translating these verses.
"who feel safe." The people are comfortable and not concerned that God will judge them.
"the most important men of this great nation." Yahweh may be using irony to describe how these men think of themselves. Alternate translation: "the men who think they are the most important people in the most important nation"
The word "house" is a metonym for the family that lives in the house. In this case it refers to Israel's descendants. Alternate translation: "the Israelites come" or "the Israelite people group comes"
Here "comes" can be stated as "goes." Alternate translation: "goes for help"
This is the name of a city.
The notable men use this question to emphasize that the kingdoms of Israel and Judah are better than those other kingdoms. Alternate translation: "Your two kingdoms are better than they are."
The notable men use this question to emphasize that their kingdoms are larger than those other kingdoms. Alternate translation: "Their border is smaller than yours." or "Those countries are smaller than Judah and Samaria."
Refusing to believe that Yahweh will cause disaster is spoken of as if the "day of disaster" were an object the people could put far from themselves. Alternate translation: "to those who refuse to believe that I will cause them to experience disaster"
Here "throne" is a metonym that represents reign or rule. The people doing evil things, which causes Yahweh to bring disaster on them, is spoken of as if they were causing "violence" to rule them. Alternate translation: "but who are actually causing me to send violent people to destroy you"
Israelites at that time usually ate while sitting on a floor cloth or a simple seat.
"beds decorated with ivory" or "costly beds"
a white substance made from the teeth and horns of large animals
lie around like lazy people
soft seats large enough to lie down on
Possible meanings: 1) they invent new songs and ways of playing the instruments or 2) they invent new instruments.
This implies that they drink a lot of wine because they drink it from a large bowl rather than a regular wine cup.
Here "Joseph" represents his descendants. Alternate translation: "they do not grieve about the descendants of Joseph whom enemies will soon destroy"
"they will be among the first ones to go into exile" or "I will send them into exile first"
"there will be no more feasts for people to lie around at ease"
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated this in [Amos 3:13]
Here "Jacob" represents his descendants. Alternate translation: "I hate the descendants of Jacob because they have become arrogant"
It is implied that Yahweh hates the fortresses because the people believed the fortresses would keep them safe. Alternate translation: "I hate the people of Israel because they trust in their fortresses, not in me, to protect them"
In 6:9-10 Amos gives an example of the kinds of things that will happen when Yahweh hands the people of Israel over to their enemies.
This seems to imply that something terrible is happening, and these ten men go into the house to hide. Alternate translation: "if ten men are hiding inside of a house, they will all still die"
This verse is unclear in the Hebrew and is translated in many different ways.
Possible meanings of the "relative" and the "one who burns him" are 1) they are the same person or 2) they are different people.
Possible meanings are 1) "his" and "him" refer to the person who has died, or 2) only "burns him" refers to the person who has died, and "his relative" could be translated as "a relative."
This phrase translates a word that refers to a person whose duty is to burn the bodies of family members who have died and for some reason cannot be buried.
You may need to make specific that the house had one or more inner or back rooms in which people could hide from those in the outer or front room where the dead body was lying.
Possible meanings are 1) the speaker is the one who asked the question, or 2) the speaker is the one hiding in the inner room.
The speaker was probably afraid that if the hearer mentioned Yahweh's name, both of them would also die.
"listen" or "pay attention"
These two phrases share similar meanings. The contrast between "the big house" and "the little house" means that this refers to all houses. Alternate translation: "all the houses will be smashed into small pieces"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the enemy will smash the big house to pieces"
You can use the same word for both of these phrases.
This can be stated with the understood information included and also in active form. Alternate translation: "the little house will be smashed to bits" and "enemies will smash the little house to bits"
Amos uses two rhetorical questions to draw attention to the rebuke that follows.
It is impossible for a horse to run on rocky cliffs without getting hurt. Amos uses this rhetorical question to rebuke them for their actions. Alternate translation: "Horses do not run on rocky cliffs."
One does not plow on rocky ground. Amos uses this rhetorical question to rebuke them for their actions. Alternate translation: "A person does not plow with oxen on rocky ground."
Distorting what is just is spoken of as if the leaders "turned justice into poison." Alternate translation: "Yet you distort what is just" or "But you make laws that hurt innocent people"
This means basically the same thing as the first part of the sentence. Distorting what is right is spoken of as if righteousness were a sweet fruit that the people made bitter tasting. Alternate translation: "you distort what is right" or "you punish those who do what is right"
These are names of towns.
The people use a question to emphasize that they believe they captured a city because of their own power. Alternate translation: "We captured Karnaim by our own power!"
"listen" or "pay attention"
The word "house" is a metonym for the family that lives in the house. In this case it refers to Israel's descendants. See how you translated this in [Amos 5:1]
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated this in [Amos 3:13]
Here "Lebo Hamath" represents the northern border of Israel, and "brook of the Arabah" represents the southern border. Alternate translation: "from the northern border of your nation to the southern border"
a small river that flows only during the wet season
1 This is what the Lord Yahweh showed me. Look, he formed a locust swarm when the spring crop began to come up, and, look, it was the late crop after the king's harvest. 2 When they finished eating the vegetation of the land, then I said, "Lord Yahweh, please forgive; how will Jacob stand? For he is so small." 3 Yahweh relented concerning this. "It will not happen," he said.
4 This is what the Lord Yahweh showed me: Look, the Lord Yahweh called on fire to judge. It dried the vast, deep water under the earth and would have devoured the land also. 5 But I said, "Lord Yahweh, please stop; how will Jacob stand? For he is so small." 6 Yahweh relented concerning this, "This also will not happen," said the Lord Yahweh.
7 This is what he showed me: Look, the Lord stood beside a wall, with a plumb line in his hand. 8 Yahweh said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said, "Look, I will put a plumb line among my people Israel. I will spare them no longer.
9 The high places of Isaac will be destroyed,
the sanctuaries of Israel will be ruined,
and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword."
10 Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent a message to Jeroboam, king of Israel: "Amos has conspired against you in the middle of the house of Israel. The land cannot endure all his words. 11 For this is what Amos said,
'Jeroboam will die by the sword,
and Israel will surely go into exile away from his land.'"
12 Amaziah said to Amos, "Seer, go, flee back to the land of Judah, and there eat bread and prophesy. 13 But do not prophesy anymore here at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary and a royal house."
14 Then Amos said to Amaziah, "I am not a prophet nor a prophet's son. I am a herdsman, and I take care of sycamore fig trees. 15 But Yahweh took me from tending the flock and said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.' 16 Now hear the word of Yahweh. You say,
'Do not prophesy against Israel,
and do not speak against the house of Isaac.'
17 Therefore this is what Yahweh says,
'Your wife will be a prostitute in the city;
your sons and your daughters will fall by the sword;
your land will be measured and divided up;
you will die in an unclean land,
and Israel will surely go into exile from his land.'"
This chapter is mainly written as a narrative about the prophet Amos interacting with Yahweh. Yahweh presents three different scenarios of judgment before Amos who pleads with God and he does not carry out his judgment. (See: prophet and judge)
In the latter part of the chapter, it is important to follow the conversation carefully to understand who is speaking. There are some instances of "reported speech."
The writer is telling the reader that he is about to say something surprising. Your language may have a way of doing this.
See how you translated this in Amos 4:9.
"after the king takes his share from the harvest"
The words "your people" or "us" are understood. Alternate translation: "please forgive your people" or "please forgive us"
Here "Jacob" represents his descendants the Israelites. The word "stand" is a metonym for surviving. Alternate translation: "how will we Israelites survive? We are so small and weak!"
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The writer is telling the reader that something surprising is about to happen. Your language may have a way of doing this.
"the Lord Yahweh used burning fire to punish the people"
Here "Jacob" represents his descendants the Israelites. See how you translated this in [Amos 7:2]
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thin rope with a weight at one end used in building to make sure walls stand straight up and down
Yahweh uses a question to teach Amos. Alternate translation: "tell me what you see."
Judging the people and determining they are wicked is spoken of as if the Israelites were a wall, and Yahweh determines the wall is not straight by using a plumb line. Alternate translation: "my people Israel are wicked. They are like a wall that is not straight up and down"
Here "sword" represents an army. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "I will send an army to attack the house of Jeroboam, and the army will destroy the high places of Isaac and the sanctuaries of Israel"
Both of these represent the people of Israel. Alternate translation: "the descendants of Isaac ... the people of Israel"
Here "house" represents "family." Translate "Jeroboam" as you did in Amos 1:1, and see how you translated "house of" in Amos 1:4. Alternate translation: "Jeroboam and his family"
Possible meanings: 1) Amaziah was the only priest at Bethel or 2) Amaziah was the leader of the priests at Bethel.
This is the name of a man.
"Amos is right here among the Israelites, and he is planning to do bad things to you"
The word "house" is a metonym for the family that lives in the house. In this case it refers to Israel's descendants. See how you translated this in [Amos 5:1]
Here "land" represents "people." Disrupting the peace is spoken of as if Amos's words were a heavy object that the land could not carry. Alternate translation: "What he is saying disturbs the peace among the people" or "His message will cause trouble among the people"
Here "sword" represents the enemies. Alternate translation: "Enemies will kill Jeroboam"
Here "eat bread" is an idiom that means to earn money or make a living for doing something. Alternate translation: "see if you can get the people there to pay you for prophesying" or "prophesy there and let them provide you with food"
Here "king's sanctuary" and "royal house" refer to the same place. Alternate translation: "this is where the national temple is, the place where the king worships"
This here probably means "one who takes care of sheep" since he is called a "shepherd" in Amos 1:1.
Sycamores are broad trees that grow up to 15 meters tall. Alternate translation: "fig trees"
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Here the word "now" is used to draw attention to the important point that follows.
Here "house" represents the family or descendants of Isaac. Alternate translation: "do not speak against the descendants of Isaac"
Here "sword" represents enemies. Alternate translation: "enemies will kill your sons and daughters"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "other people will take your land and divide it up among themselves"
A land full of people that are unacceptable to God is spoken of as if the land were physically unclean. Here it means a land other than Israel. Alternate translation: "a foreign land"
1 This is what the Lord Yahweh showed me. Look, a basket of summer fruit! 2 He said, "What do you see, Amos?" I said, "A basket of summer fruit." Then Yahweh said to me,
"The end has come for my people Israel;
I will spare them no longer.
3 The songs of the temple will become wailings in that day—
this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh—
many dead bodies, they are thrown everywhere!
Silence!"
4 Listen to this, you who trample the needy
and remove the poor of the land.
5 They say,
"When will the new moon be over,
so we can sell grain again?
When will the Sabbath day be over,
so that we can sell wheat?
We will make the measure small
and increase the price,
as we cheat with deceitful scales.
6 This is so we can sell bad wheat, buy the poor with silver,
and the needy for a pair of sandals."
7 Yahweh has sworn by the pride of Jacob, "Surely I will never forget any of their actions."
8 Will not the land quake for this,
and everyone who lives in it mourn?
All of it will rise up like the Nile River,
and it will be tossed about and sink again,
like the river of Egypt.
9 "It will come in that day—
this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh—
that I will make the sun set at noon,
and I will darken the earth at daylight.
10 I will turn your festivals into mourning
and all your songs into lamentation.
I put sackcloth on all loins
and have baldness on every head.
I will make it like mourning for an only son,
and a bitter day to its end.
11 Look, the days are coming—
this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh—
when I will send a famine in the land,
not a famine for bread, nor of thirst for water,
but for hearing the words of Yahweh.
12 They will stagger from sea to sea;
they will run from the north to the east
to seek the word of Yahweh,
but they will not find it.
13 In that day the beautiful virgins and the young men
will faint from thirst.
14 Those who swear by the sin of Samaria [1]
and say, 'As your god lives, Dan,'
and, 'As the way to Beersheba exists,' [2]
they will fall and never rise again."
This chapter is written in poetic form and it shows the way Yahweh's people are sinning and how he is going to respond. (See: peopleofgod and sin)
This phrase is used to introduce prophecy. It highlights what God is proclaiming. (See: prophet)
The word "look" here shows that Amos saw something interesting. Alternate translation: "I saw a basket of summer fruit!"
"ripe fruit"
Yahweh uses a question to teach Amos. Alternate translation: "Tell me what you see, Amos."
"at that time"
Possible meanings are 1) Yahweh is to telling the people to be silent as they hear about the severity of his punishment or 2) the people will be silent because of their grief after Yahweh's punishment.
Amos is speaking to the wealthy merchants who harm those who are poor.
This can be restated to remove the nominal adjectives "the needy" and "the poor." Alternate translation: "you who trample those who are in need and remove those in the land that are poor"
Harming people is spoken of as if it were stomping on people. Alternate translation: "you who harm" or "you who oppress"
The merchants use theses question to emphasize that want to start selling their items again. This can be stated as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: "They are always asking when the new moon will be over or when the Sabbath will be over so that can sell their grain and wheat again."
The merchants would use false scales that showed that the amount of grain they were giving was greater than it really was and that the weight of the payment was less than it really was.
The words "and buy" are understood. Alternate translation: "buy the needy for a pair of sandals"
Here "pride of Jacob" is a title for Yahweh. Also "Jacob" represents his descendants, the Israelites. Alternate translation: "Yahweh has sworn by himself, saying" or "Yahweh, of whom the Israelites are so proud, has sworn"
Amos uses a question to emphasize that these things will certainly happen. Alternate translation: "Yahweh will cause the land to shake, and everyone who lives in it will mourn."
Amos compares the rising and sinking of the waters of the Nile River to how Yahweh will cause the land to shake when he judges the people.
This is another name for the Nile River.
"It will happen at that time"
A person shaves his head to show that he is grieving. Alternate translation: "cause you all to shave your heads"
It is understood that the only son has died. Alternate translation: "like mourning for an only son who has died"
Terrible and sad things happening during a day is spoken of as if the day had a bitter taste. Alternate translation: "everything that happens at that time will cause you great sorrow"
This speaks of a future time as if "days are coming." Alternate translation: "there will be a time" or "in the future"
Yahweh refusing to give messages when the people want to hear from him is spoken of as if there would be a famine of his words. Alternate translation: "when I will cause something like a famine in the land ... but for hearing the words of Yahweh"
This can be stated in first person. Alternate translation: "words from me, Yahweh" or "my messages"
Here "sea to sea" and "the north to the east" represent all of the land of Israel. Alternate translation: "They will wander here and there and search all over for the word of Yahweh"
This implies the Dead Sea in the south and the Mediterranean Sea in the west.
"At that time"
to lose all strength
Here "sin" represents the false god the people worship in Samaria. Alternate translation: "by the false god of Samaria"
This is a way of making a solemn oath. The people declare that they believe the god of Dan is certainly alive to emphasize that they will certainly do what they promise to do.
This is probably a reference to the roads that pilgrims would take to Beersheba in order to worship idols there. Again, this is a way of making a solemn oath. They state that the way to Beersheba certainly exists in order to emphasize that they will certainly do what they promise to do.
This is an idiom. Alternate translation: "they will die"
1 I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and he said,
"Strike the tops of the pillars
so that the thresholds will shake.
Break them in pieces on all of their heads,
and I will kill the last of them with the sword.
Not one of them will get away;
not one of them will escape.
2 Though they dig into Sheol,
there my hand will take them.
Though they climb up to heaven,
there I will bring them down.
3 Though they hide on the top of Carmel,
there I will search and take them.
Though they are hidden from my sight in the bottom of the sea,
there will I command the serpent, and it will bite them.
4 Though they go into captivity, driven by their enemies before them,
there will I give orders to the sword, and it will kill them.
I will keep my eyes on them
for harm and not for good."
5 The Lord Yahweh of hosts
touches the land and it melts;
all who live in it mourn;
all of it will rise up like the River,
and sink again like the river of Egypt.
6 It is he who builds his steps in the heavens,
and has established his vault over the earth.
He calls for the waters of the sea,
and pours them out on the surface of the earth,
Yahweh is his name.
7 "Are you not like the people of Cush to me,
people of Israel—
this is Yahweh's declaration—
did I not bring up Israel out of the land of Egypt,
the Philistines from Crete,
and the Arameans from Kir?
8 Look, the eyes of the Lord Yahweh
are on the sinful kingdom,
and I will destroy it
from the face of the earth,
except that I will not totally destroy
the house of Jacob—
this is Yahweh's declaration.
9 Look, I will give a command,
and I will shake the house of Israel
among all the nations,
as one shakes grain in a sieve,
so that not the smallest stone will fall to the ground.
10 All the sinners of my people
will die by the sword,
those who say,
'Disaster will not overtake or meet us.'
11 In that day
I will raise up the tent of David that has fallen,
and close up its breaches.
I will raise up its ruins,
and rebuild it as in the days of old,
12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom,
and all the nations that are called by my name—
this is Yahweh's declaration—he does this.
13 Look, the days will come—
this is Yahweh's declaration—
when the plowman will overtake the reaper,
and the treader of grapes will overtake him who plants seed.
The mountains will drip sweet wine,
and all the hills will flow with it.
14 I will bring back from captivity my people Israel.
They will build the ruined cities and inhabit them,
they will plant vineyards and drink their wine,
and they will make gardens and eat their fruit.
15 I will plant them upon their land,
and they will never again be uprooted from the land
that I have given them,"
says Yahweh your God.
This chapter is written in poetic form and continues to show the awesome and terrible judgment of Yahweh on his people. In verse 11, the writer writes about the forgiveness and mercy of God on the kingdom of Israel. (See: judge, peopleofgod and forgive and mercy)
This phrase is used to introduce prophecy. It highlights what God is proclaiming. Try to remain consistent in translating this phrase throughout the book. (See: prophet)
Yahweh shows Amos another vision.
It is uncertain to whom Yahweh is speaking these commands.
It is implied that Yahweh is speaking about the pillars and thresholds of a temple.
This merism implies that the whole temple will be destroyed.
Here "heads" represents the whole person. Alternate translation: "Break the pillars so that the temple falls on all of the people and kills them"
Here "sword" represents an army attacking with their weapons. Alternate translation: "I will send an enemy army to kill the rest of them"
Yahweh uses an exaggerated image of people fleeing to Sheol or heaven to try to escape being killed. Here "Sheol" and "heaven" are a merism that represents all places. Alternate translation: "Even if they were to flee to Sheol or to heaven, they would not be able to escape me"
Here "hand" represents Yahweh's power. Alternate translation: "I will pull them up from there"
Yahweh gives an exaggerated image of the people fleeing to the top of mount Carmel or to the bottom of the sea to escape being killed. Here "top of Carmel" and "bottom of the sea" are a merism that represents all places. Alternate translation: "Even if they were to hide on the top of Carmel ... Even if they tried to go the bottom sea, thinking that I could not see them"
an unknown fierce sea animal, not the snake in the garden of Eden and not a common snake
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Though enemies capture them and force them to go to a foreign land"
Here "sword" represents their enemies. Alternate translation: "there I will cause their enemies to kill them"
Here "eyes" represents seeing. The phrase "keep my eyes on them" is an idiom that means to watch closely. Alternate translation: "I will watch closely and make sure only bad things happen to them and not good things"
Here "the River" and "river of Egypt" both refer to the Nile river. Yahweh causing the land to shake violently is compared to the waters of the Nile river rising and sinking.
These are probably the steps that ancient people imagined led up to God's palace in the heavens. However, some modern versions understand the word translated as "steps" here to mean "upper rooms." In either case, "his steps" or "his upper rooms" is probably a metonym for God's palace.
Here "vault" refers to the sky which biblical writers described as being a dome over the earth. Alternate translation: "he sets the sky over the earth"
This represents God causing the sea water to fall on the earth as rain. See how you translated this in [Amos 5:8]
By declaring his name, Yahweh is declaring his power and authority to do these things. See how you translated this in Amos 5:8.
Yahweh uses a question to emphasize that the people of Israel are no more special to him than the people of Cush, the Philistines, and the Arameans. Alternate translation: "You people of Israel, you are certainly no more important to me than the people of Cush—this ... declaration—I brought up Israel ... the Philistines ... the Arameans from Kir."
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated these words in [Amos 2:11]
See how you translated the name of this place in Amos 1:5.
Here "eyes" represents seeing. Also, Yahweh speaks of himself in third person. Alternate translation: "I, the Lord Yahweh, see that the people of this kingdom are very sinful"
The idiom "from the face of the earth" means "completely." Alternate translation: "I will completely destroy this kingdom"
The word "house" is a metonym for the family that lives in the house. In this case it refers to Jacob's descendants. They were the people of Israel. See how you translated this in [Amos 3:13]
The word "house" is a metonym for the family that lives in the house. In this case it refers to Israel's descendants. See how you translated this in [Amos 5:1]
The picture here is of grain falling through the sieve and stones being kept out. The idea is that Yahweh will remove all of the sinful people from Israel.
a surface with many small holes that allow small things to pass through and keep larger things from passing through
Here "sword" represents their enemies. Alternate translation: "Enemies will kill all the sinners of my people"
Experiencing disaster is spoken of as disaster could overtake or meet someone. Alternate translation: "We will not experience disaster" or "Bad things will not happen to us"
"At that time"
Causing the people of Israel to be great again is spoken of as if David's kingdom were a tent that fell down and Yahweh will set it back up. Alternate translation: "David's kingdom will be like tent that has fallen down, but I will raise it back up again"
"I will repair its walls"
"I will rebuild its ruins and make it strong like it was long ago"
parts of a wall that have fallen down
"the remaining part of Edom's territory"
Here "name" represents Yahweh. The idiom "called by my name" means they once belonged to Yahweh. This means that in the past the people had conquered and taken control of these territories. Alternate translation: "all the nations that once belonged to me" or "all the nations that I caused the people of Israel to conquer in the past"
The writer is telling the reader that he is going to say something surprising. Your language may have a way of doing this.
A future time is spoken of as if "days will come." Alternate translation: "there will be a time ... when the plowman" or "in the future ... the plowman"
These are two images of Yahweh restoring prosperity in Israel. This means grain will grow faster than the people can harvest it, and there will be so many grapes, those crushing the grapes will still be working when farmers start planting more vineyards.
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated this in [Amos 2:11]
These two lines mean basically the same thing. The huge amount of grapes and wine in Israel is spoken of as if wine flows down the hills and mountains.
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Bringing the people back to their land and keeping them safe from enemies is spoken of as if Israel were a plant that Yahweh would put in the ground and not let anyone pull the plant up from the ground. Alternate translation: "I will cause them to live in the land forever like a plant that is never uprooted"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "no one will ever again uproot them from the land"
for a plant and its roots to be pulled out of the ground
1 当 犹大 乌西雅 以色列 约阿施 耶罗波安 提哥亚 阿摩司 以色列
2 他说：耶和华必从 锡安
从 耶路撒冷
牧人的草场要悲哀；
迦密
3 耶和华如此说：
大马士革
我必不免去她的刑罚；
因为她以打粮食的铁器打过 基列
4 我却要降火在 哈薛
烧灭 便·哈达
5 我必折断 大马士革
剪除 亚文 伯·伊甸
亚兰 吉珥
这是耶和华说的。
6 耶和华如此说：
迦萨
我必不免去她的刑罚；
因为她掳掠众民交给 以东
7 我却要降火在 迦萨
烧灭其中的宫殿。
8 我必剪除 亚实突 亚实基伦
也必反手攻击 以革伦
非利士
这是主耶和华说的。
9 耶和华如此说：
泰尔
我必不免去她的刑罚；
因为她将众民交给 以东
并不记念弟兄的盟约。
10 我却要降火在 泰尔
烧灭其中的宫殿。
11 耶和华如此说：
以东
我必不免去她的刑罚；
因为她拿刀追赶兄弟，毫无怜悯，
发怒撕裂，永怀忿怒。
12 我却要降火在 提幔
烧灭 波斯拉
13 耶和华如此说：
亚扪
我必不免去他们的刑罚；
因为他们剖开 基列
扩张自己的境界。
14 我却要在争战呐喊的日子，
旋风狂暴的时候，
点火在 拉巴
烧灭其中的宫殿。
15 他们的王和首领必一同被掳去。
这是耶和华说的。
透过阿摩司的所见所闻，神使阿摩司明白了一切。
这两行意思相似。共同强调地是，耶和华在准备审判这个国家时大声呼喊。
像 1)狮子 或 2)雷声
这是神的名，是他在旧约中启示给他的子民的。参照translationWord关于耶和华的翻译。
“因为许多罪过……因为太多的罪过“，或者“因为……犯了太多的罪，超出了我的允许范围”。
“我一定要惩罚那些人。”
在这里，“剪除 ”的意思是“摧毁”或“赶走”。
一些现代版本认为就是同一个住在亚文平原的人。
一些现代版本将其解释为“住在亚文平原的居民”。有些版本通常把这个”人“解释为“国王”。
城市的名字。
不是伊甸园。
国王或首领
参照1:3节的注释翻译。
在这里，“剪除 ”的意思是“摧毁”或“赶走”。
一些现代版本将其解释为“住在亚实突的人”。有的版本通常把这个“居民”解释为“国王”。
一些现代版本认为这是同一个住在亚实突的人。
“我必与以革伦争战”。
参照1:3节的注释翻译。
“他们待你如弟兄而达成的协议”
参照1:3节的注释翻译。
“他的忿怒直到如今”。
参:
参照1:3节的注释翻译。
“许多坏事同时发生”
两种不同的风暴
一种风暴，风绕着圈转
1 耶和华如此说：
摩押
我必不免去她的刑罚；
因为她将 以东
2 我却要降火在 摩押
烧灭 加略
摩押
3 我必剪除 摩押
将其中的一切首领和他一同杀戮。
这是耶和华说的。
4 耶和华如此说：
犹大
我必不免去他们的刑罚；
因为他们厌弃耶和华的训诲，
不遵守他的律例。
他们列祖所随从虚假的 偶像 使他们走迷了。
5 我却要降火在 犹大
烧灭 耶路撒冷
6 耶和华如此说：
以色列
我必不免去他们的刑罚；
因他们为银子卖了义人，
为一双鞋卖了穷人。
7 他们见穷人头上所蒙的灰也都垂涎，
阻碍谦卑人的道路。
父子同一个女子行淫，
亵渎我的圣名。
8 他们在各坛旁铺人所当的衣服，卧在其上，
又在他们神的庙中喝受罚之人的酒。
9 我从 以色列 亚摩利
他虽高大如香柏树，坚固如橡树，
我却上灭他的果子，下绝他的根本。
10 我也将你们从 埃及
在旷野引导你们四十年，
使你们得 亚摩利
11 我从你们子弟中兴起先知，
又从你们少年人中兴起拿细耳人。
以色列
这是耶和华说的。
12 你们却给拿细耳人酒喝，
嘱咐先知说：不要说预言。
13 看哪，在你们所住之地，我必压 你们 ，
如同装满禾捆的车压 物 一样。
14 快跑的不能逃脱；
有力的不能用力；
刚勇的也不能自救。
15 拿弓的不能站立；
腿快的不能逃脱；
骑马的也不能自救。
16 到那日，勇士中最有胆量的，
必赤身逃跑。
这是耶和华说的。
参照1:3节的注释翻译。
贝壳和一些岩石燃烧后留下的灰烬。
参:
“摩押人必死”。
参照1:3节的注释翻译。
这个词语在这里可能意味着“假神”或“偶像”。
拜偶像，就好像是人们走在这些假神的后面。(参: fig:s_metaphor)
参照1:3节的注释翻译。
NA
“当被压迫者说他们受到不公平对待时，他们拒绝倾听”。
“他们如同你所知道的最高的树一样高，如同你所知道的最强壮的树一样强壮”。
每次这句话出现在本卷书时，试着用同样的方式翻译。
另译: “听”，或 “注意我要告诉你的。”
“拿弓的要逃跑”
“腿快的要被抓住”
“骑马的要死亡”
可能的意思是 1)“没带武器就逃跑”，或 2)“没穿衣服就逃跑。”
参照2:11节的注释翻译。
1 以色列 埃及
2 在地上万族中，我只认识你们；
因此，我必追讨你们的一切罪孽。
3 二人若不同心，岂能同行呢？
4 狮子若非抓食，岂能在林中咆哮呢？
少壮狮子若无所得，岂能从洞中发声呢？
5 若没有机槛，雀鸟岂能陷在网罗里呢？
网罗若无所得，岂能从地上翻起呢？
6 城中若吹角，百姓岂不惊恐呢？
灾祸若临到一城，岂非耶和华所降的吗？
7 主耶和华若不将奥秘指示他的仆人—众先知，
就一无所行。
8 狮子吼叫，谁不惧怕呢？
主耶和华发命，谁能不说预言呢？
9 要在 亚实突
和 埃及
你们要聚集在 撒马利亚
就看见城中有何等大的扰乱与欺压的事。
10 那些以强暴抢夺财物、
积蓄在自己家中的人
不知道行正直的事。
这是耶和华说的。
11 所以主耶和华如此说：
敌人必来围攻这地，
使你的势力衰微，
抢掠你的家宅。
12 耶和华如此说：「牧人怎样从狮子口中抢回两条 羊 腿或半个耳朵，住 撒马利亚 以色列
13 主耶和华—万军之 神说：
当听这话，警戒 雅各
14 我讨 以色列 伯特利
坛角必被砍下，坠落于地。
15 我要拆毁过冬和过夏的房屋。
象牙的房屋也必毁灭；
高大的房屋都归无有。
这是耶和华说的。
神将在3:7节中回答这些问题。
神将在3:7节中回答这些问题。
“耶和华将首先启示……先知在他做任何事之前”。
参照2:11节的注释翻译。
足够大的可以躺下的软椅子
这段希伯来语很难理解，一些现代版本有不同的解释。一些现代版本对UDB的解释使用了一个比喻。这意味着只有少数以色列人会得救，就像房主的房子着火时，他只能保住几件家具一样。
每次这些词出现在本卷书里时，试着用同样的方式翻译它们。
这些看起来像公牛的角，两边的顶部聚在一起，象征着神的强大。
“所有的房子”
大型动物的牙齿和角
参照2:11节的注释翻译。
1 你们住 撒马利亚 巴珊
当听我的话—
你们欺负贫寒的，压碎穷乏的，
对家主说：拿 酒 来，我们喝吧！
2 主耶和华指着自己的圣洁起誓说：
日子快到，人必用钩子将你们钩去，
用鱼钩将你们余剩的钩去。
3 你们各人必从破口直往前行，
投入 哈门
这是耶和华说的。
4 以色列 伯特利
到 吉甲
每日早晨献上你们的祭物，
每三日奉上你们的十分之一。
5 任你们献有酵的感谢祭，
把甘心祭宣传报告给众人，
因为是你们所喜爱的。
这是主耶和华说的。
6 我使你们在一切城中牙齿干净，
在你们各处粮食缺乏，
你们仍不归向我。
这是耶和华说的。
7 在收割的前三月，我使雨停止，
不降在你们那里；
我降雨在这城，
不降雨在那城；
这块地有雨，
那块地无雨；
无雨的就枯干了。
8 这样，两三城的人凑到一城去找水，
却喝不足；
你们仍不归向我。
这是耶和华说的。
9 我以旱 风 、霉烂攻击你们，
你们园中许多菜蔬、葡萄树、
无花果树、橄榄树都被剪虫所吃；
你们仍不归向我。
这是耶和华说的。
10 我降瘟疫在你们中间，
像在 埃及
用刀杀戮你们的少年人，
使你们的马匹被掳掠，
营中 尸首 的臭气扑鼻；
你们仍不归向我。
这是耶和华说的。
11 我倾覆你们中间的 城邑 ，
如同我从前倾覆 所多玛 蛾摩拉
使你们好像从火中抽出来的一根柴；
你们仍不归向我。
这是耶和华说的。
12 以色列
以色列
你当预备迎见你的 神。
13 那创山、造风、将心意指示人、
使晨光变为幽暗、脚踏在地之高处的，
他的名是耶和华—万军之 神。
这两句话的意思基本相同，强调敌人会像抓鱼一样抓人。另译: “打败你们所有人，强迫你们和他们一起走。” 或“把你挂在鱼钩上带走。”
敌人攻破城墙进入的地方
“他们会把你扔向哈门”，或“你的敌人会迫使你离开这座城市，走向哈门”。
这可能是一个我们不知道的地名。也可能指的是黑门山，一些现代版本是这样解释的。
这个短语用来表示神所说的事情一定会发生。参照2:11节的注释翻译 。
“因为你们不肯悔改，你们在伯特利和吉甲所献的祭，反倒叫我更加发怒。”
如果你的语言有一种方式来表明，人们拒绝理解做这些事情对他们没有好处，但他们不会停止这样做，你可以在这里使用它。
有些版本是“每三年”，不是“每三天”，这是因为以色列人每三年把他们的十分之一奉献给神。
参照3:13节的注释翻译。
“饿”或“饥饿”
另译: “你们一直没有停止对我犯罪。”
参照2:11节的注释翻译。
“有时我给你过少的雨，有时我给你过多的雨”。
使植物干枯和死亡的疾病。
长时间的潮湿让不好的东西长出来。
参照4:6节的注释翻译。
参照2:11节的注释翻译。
另译: “空气中弥漫着你营地的恶臭”，或 “你无法摆脱你的营地的恶臭”。
非常难闻的味道，尤其是死人的味道
另译: “我很快就把你从火里救了出来，就像你是一根燃烧的棍子。” 或“在我很快把你从火里救出来之前，我让你烧掉了一半。”
参照4:6节的注释翻译。
参照2:11节的注释翻译。
1 以色列
2 以色列 [1] - 跌倒，不得再起；
躺在地上，无人搀扶。
3 主耶和华如此说：
以色列 兵 的，只剩一百；
发出一百的，只剩十个。
4 耶和华向 以色列
你们要寻求我，就必存活。
5 不要往 伯特利
不要进入 吉甲
不要过到 别是巴
因为 吉甲
伯特利
6 要寻求耶和华，就必存活，
免得他在 约瑟
在 伯特利
7 你们这使公平变为茵 、
将公义丢弃于地的，
8 要 寻求 那造昴星和参星，
使死荫变为晨光，
使白日变为黑夜，
命海水来浇在地上的—
耶和华是他的名；
9 他使力强的忽遭灭亡，
以致保障遭遇毁坏。
10 你们怨恨那在城门口责备人的，
憎恶那说正直话的。
11 你们践踏贫民，
向他们勒索麦子；
你们用凿过的石头建造房屋，
却不得住在其内；
栽种美好的葡萄园，
却不得喝所出的酒。
12 我知道你们的罪过何等多，
你们的罪恶何等大。
你们苦待义人，收受贿赂，在城门口屈枉穷乏人。
13 所以通达人见这样的时势必静默不言，
因为时势真恶。
14 你们要求善，
不要求恶，就必存活。
这样，耶和华—万军之 神
必照你们所说的与你们同在。
15 要恶恶好善，
在城门口秉公行义；
或者耶和华—万军之 神向 约瑟
16 主耶和华—万军之 神如此说：
在一切宽阔处必有哀号的声音；
在各街市上必有人说：
哀哉！哀哉！
又必叫农夫来哭号，
叫善唱哀歌的来举哀。
17 在各葡萄园必有哀号的声音，
因为我必从你中间经过。
这是耶和华说的。
18 想望耶和华日子来到的有祸了！
你们为何想望耶和华的日子呢？
那日黑暗没有光明，
19 景况好像人躲避狮子又遇见熊，
或是进房屋以手靠墙，就被蛇咬。
20 耶和华的日子不是黑暗没有光明吗？
不是幽暗毫无光辉吗？
21 我厌恶你们的节期，
也不喜悦你们的严肃会。
22 你们虽然向我献燔祭和素祭，
我却不悦纳，
也不顾你们用肥畜献的平安祭；
23 要使你们歌唱的声音远离我，
因为我不听你们弹琴的响声。
24 惟愿公平如大水滚滚，
使公义如江河滔滔。
25 「 以色列 26 你们抬着为自己所造之 摩洛 27 所以我要把你们掳到 大马士革
“以色列人死得甚苦……他们会……他们是……扶起他们”
找我求助
“伯特利将被全部毁灭。” 另译: “必有人来，尽都毁灭伯特利。”
“他必像火忽然发出，烧灭一切。”
称恶为善，轻视善举
或“扭曲正义”，或 “做不公正的事，但非说是公正的”
“把正义当尘土一样看待”
星群
“极大地压迫”
“不让穷人把案件呈给法官”。
那些不想让坏人伤害自己的人，不会站出来反对这些恶行。
“在城门口看到公义得到伸张”
持续的，大声的，悲伤的呼叫
另译: “你们不应该渴望耶和华的日子! ”
“坏事，而非好事，会在那一天发生”。
另译: “耶和华的日子必定是黑暗，没有光明! ”；或“坏事，而非好事，必定在耶和华的日子发生! ”
“厌恶”这个词是“憎恨”的强烈表达。这两个词一起强调了耶和华对他们宗教节日的憎恨。另译: “我非常讨厌你们的节日。”
可能的意思是 1)“我没有命令你们给我带来祭物……以色列! ” 或 2)“你们带的祭物不是给我的……以色列! ”
外邦的神
NA
1 国为列国之首，人最著名，
且为 以色列
在 锡安 撒马利亚
2 你们要过到 甲尼
从那里往大 城 哈马
又下到 非利士 迦特
看那些国比你们的国还强吗？
境界比你们的境界还宽吗？
3 你们以为降祸的日子还远，
坐在位上尽行强暴 [1] - 。
4 你们躺卧在象牙床上，舒身在榻上，
吃群中的羊羔，棚里的牛犊；
5 弹琴鼓瑟唱消闲的歌曲，
为自己制造乐器，如同 大卫 所造 的；
6 以大碗喝酒，用上等的油抹身，
却不为 约瑟
7 所以这些人必在被掳的人中首先被掳；
舒身的人荒宴之乐必消灭了。
8 主耶和华—万军之 神指着自己起誓说：
我憎恶 雅各
因此，我必将城和其中所有的都交付 敌人 。
9 那时，若在一房之内剩下十个人，也都必死。 10 死人的伯叔，就是烧他尸首的，要将这尸首搬到房外，问房屋内间的人说：「你那里还有人没有？」他必说：「没有」；又说：「不要作声，因为我们不可提耶和华的名。」
11 看哪，耶和华出令，
大房就被攻破，
小屋就被打裂。
12 马岂能在崖石上奔跑？
人岂能 在那里 用牛耕种呢？
你们却使公平变为苦胆，
使公义的果子变为茵 。
13 你们喜爱虚浮的事， 自夸 说：
我们不是凭自己的力量取了角吗？
14 耶和华、万军之 神说：
以色列
他们必欺压你们，
从 哈马 亚拉巴
舒适而不担心神会审判他们
另译: “他们不比你们的两个王国强多少。”
“他们的疆界比你们的还小。” 或“他们的国家比犹大和撒马利亚还小。”
"以一种神会让残暴的人来审判你们的方式行事。”
NA
那时的以色列人通常坐在地板上或简单的椅子上吃饭。
“床上有象牙让床看起来更高级”，或“昂贵的床”
大型动物的牙齿和角
“像懒惰的人一样躺着”
足够大的可以躺下的软椅子
可能的意思是: 1)他们创作了新的歌曲和演奏乐器的新方法; 2)他们制作了新的乐器。
圣殿仪式中用的碗，比人们吃饭时用的碗大
“他们没有感到悲伤，表现得如同所爱之人已经死了。”
参照3:13节的注释翻译。
“我恨恶以色列人，因为他们倚靠自己的堡垒来保护他们，不倚靠我。”
为保护他们免受攻击而修建的环绕城的墙
这些句子的意思不清楚。可能的意思是: 1)“死人的伯叔”指的是“将这尸首搬到房外”和“烧他尸首的”，他与一个躲在死了10个家人的房子里的人说话。2)”将这尸首搬到房外”的“死人的伯叔”与“烧他尸首的”是不同的人。他们在这房子里互相交谈。“死人的伯叔”来要“将这尸首搬到房外”，他和“烧他尸首的”一起在房屋里的时候， 对后者说: “你那里还有人没有？”
火化
尸体
“听”，或“注意我将要告诉你的事。”
这两个短语意思相似。“大房子”和“小房子”区别开来是在表示所有的房子。可能的意思是:1)耶和华会命令他人摧毁所有的房子，或 2)耶和华自己会发命令摧毁所有的房子。
另译: “敌人会把大房子打得粉碎”。
可以用同一个词翻译这两个短语。
另译: “小房子会被打得粉碎。”
阿摩司用了两个反问来吸引人们注意接下来的指责。
要让马在岩石峭壁上奔跑而不受伤是不可能的。阿摩司用这个反问来谴责他们的行为。
人不能在岩石地上耕地。阿摩司用这个反问来谴责他们的行为。
“但是你们制定伤害无辜人的律法”。
“你们惩罚那些行公义的人”
NA
NA
参照3:13节的注释翻译。
另译：“从你们国家的北部边界到南部边界”
一条只在雨季才流动的小河
1 主耶和华指示我一件事：为王割菜 [1] - 之后，菜又发生；刚发生的时候，主造蝗虫。 2 蝗虫吃尽那地的青物，我就说：「主耶和华啊，求你赦免；因为 雅各
3 耶和华就后悔说：「这灾可以免了。」
4 主耶和华又指示我一件事：他命火来惩罚 以色列 5 我就说：「主耶和华啊，求你止息；因为 雅各
6 耶和华就后悔说：「这灾也可免了。」
7 他又指示我一件事：有一道墙是按准绳建筑的，主手拿准绳站在其上。 8 耶和华对我说：「 阿摩司 以色列 9 以撒 以色列 耶罗波安
10 伯特利 亚玛谢 以色列 耶罗波安 阿摩司 以色列 11 因为 阿摩司 耶罗波安 以色列
12 亚玛谢 阿摩司 犹大 13 却不要在 伯特利
14 阿摩司 亚玛谢 [2] - 。我是牧人，又是修理桑树的。 15 耶和华选召我，使我不跟从羊群，对我说：『你去向我民 以色列 16 亚玛谢 以色列 以撒 预言 。』 17 所以耶和华如此说：『你的妻子必在城中作妓女；你的儿女必倒在刀下。你的地必有人用绳子量了分取；你自己必死在污秽之地。 以色列
NA
“雅各无法存活！”
NA
另译: “雅各肯定无法存活!” 或“请告诉雅各他需要做什么才能存活!”
一端有重物的细绳，用于建筑中，以确保墙壁上下垂直
以色列北部王国的百姓
可能的意思是: 1)亚玛谢是伯特利唯一的祭司；或2)亚玛谢是伯特利祭司的首领。
另译: “阿摩司就在以色列地，他要对你做坏事。”
“人们可能会相信他，然后做出毁灭国家的事情”。
“看你能不能让那里的人因为你说预言付钱给你”
这里的意思可能是“照顾羊群的人”，因为他在1:1节中被称为“牧人”。
这个词语在这里代表所有外邦之地，在那里的人是不被神所接纳的。
1 主耶和华又指示我一件事：我看见一筐夏天的果子。 2 他说：「 阿摩司 以色列 3 主耶和华说：「那日，殿中的诗歌变为哀号；必有许多尸首在各处抛弃，无人作声。」
4 你们这些要吞吃穷乏人、
使困苦人衰败的，当听我的话！
5 你们说：月朔几时过去，
我们好卖粮；
安息日几时过去，
我们好摆开麦子；
卖出 用小升斗，
收银 用大戥子，
用诡诈的天平欺哄人，
6 好用银子买贫寒人，
用一双鞋换穷乏人，
将坏了的麦子卖给人。
7 耶和华指着 雅各
他们的一切行为，我必永远不忘。
8 地岂不因这事震动？
其上的居民不也悲哀吗？
地必全然像 尼罗河
如同 埃及河
9 主耶和华说：到那日，
我必使日头在午间落下，
使地在白昼黑暗。
10 我必使你们的节期变为悲哀，
歌曲变为哀歌。
众人腰束麻布，头上光秃，
使这场悲哀如丧独生子，
至终如痛苦的日子一样。
11 主耶和华说：日子将到，
我必命饥荒降在地上。
人饥饿非因无饼，干渴非因无水，
乃因不听耶和华的话。
12 他们必飘流，从这海到那海，
从北边到东边，往来奔跑，
寻求耶和华的话，却寻不着。
13 当那日，美貌的处女
和少年的男子必因干渴发昏。
14 那指着 撒马利亚 [1] - 起誓的说：
但
又说：我们指着 别是巴 [2] - 起誓。
这些人都必仆倒，永不再起来。
NA
参照3:13节的注释翻译。
“许多地方”
阿摩司对那些做买卖的人说话(8:5)。
参照2:7节的注释翻译。
“他们常问，新月节几时过去，他们好去卖粮，安息日几时过去，他们好去卖麦子。”
商人们会用作假的秤来显示他们所卖出的粮食比实际的要多，而所付的银钱重量比实际的要轻。
另译: “以一双鞋的价钱来买穷人”
“耶和华指着自己起誓，说”，或“雅各所夸耀的耶和华起誓”
尼罗河的别称
参照3:13节的注释翻译。
参照3:13节的注释翻译。
有些人走得慢，容易摔倒，就像一个人饿得没力气走，而另一些人会很快地到处走。
失去气力
NA
1 我看见主站在祭坛旁边；
他说：你要击打柱顶，使门槛震动，
打碎柱顶，落在众人头上；
所剩下的人，我必用刀杀戮，
无一人能逃避，无一人能逃脱。
2 他们虽然挖透阴间，
我的手必取出他们来；
虽然爬上天去，
我必拿下他们来；
3 虽然藏在 迦密山
我必搜寻，捉出他们来；
虽然从我眼前藏在海底，
我必命蛇咬他们；
4 虽被仇敌掳去，
我必命刀剑杀戮他们；
我必向他们定住眼目，
降祸不降福。
5 主—万军之耶和华摸地，地就消化，
凡住在地上的都必悲哀。
地必全然像 尼罗河
如同 埃及河
6 那在天上建造楼阁、
在地上安定穹苍、
命海水浇在地上的—
耶和华是他的名。
7 耶和华说： 以色列
我岂不看你们如 古实
我岂不是领 以色列 埃及
领 非利士 迦斐托
领 亚兰 吉珥
8 主耶和华的眼目察看这有罪的国，
必将这国从地上灭绝，
却不将 雅各
这是耶和华说的。
9 我必出令，
将 以色列
好像用筛子筛 谷 ，
连一粒也不落在地上。
10 我民中的一切罪人说：
灾祸必追不上我们，
也迎不着我们。
他们必死在刀下。
11 到那日，我必建立 大卫
堵住其中的破口，
把那破坏的建立起来，
重新修造，像古时一样，
12 使 以色列 以东
和所有称为我名下的国。
此乃行这事的耶和华说的。
13 耶和华说：
日子将到，
耕种的必接续收割的；
踹葡萄的必接续撒种的；
大山要滴下甜酒；
小山都必流奶 [1] - 。
14 我必使我民 以色列
他们必重修荒废的城邑居住，
栽种葡萄园，喝其中所出的酒，
修造果木园，吃其中的果子。
15 我要将他们栽于本地，
他们不再从我所赐给他们的地上拔出来。
这是耶和华—你的 神说的。
可能的意思是: 1)打破圣殿的碎片，或 2) 打破柱子的顶部。
另译: “不管他们去到哪里，我都会抓到他们。”
一种未知的凶猛的海洋动物，不是伊甸园里的蛇，也不是普通的蛇
如果你的语言中有一些词通常表示，说话的人想要对他人做好事，但也可以使用在说话的人想要对他人做坏事的情况，这里你就可以使用。
要确保读者理解到“祸”这个词
这些可能是古代人们想象中的台阶，通往天上神的殿。然而，一些现代版本希望读出的是一个不同的希伯来语单词，意思是“宫殿”或“房间”。在这里，“楼阁”可能是神宫殿的转喻。
有些版本翻译的是，“在地上建立了他的支撑”，也就是地球所依赖的结构。
参照2:11节的注释翻译。
这幅图画描绘的是谷粒从筛子里掉出来，石头被挡在外面。有些版本理解为“连最小的石头也不会掉下来”，意思是好的谷物不会带着任何多余的材料从筛子里掉下来。
有许多小孔的表面，这些小孔允许小物体通过，并阻止大物体通过
以色列王国被耶和华毁灭之后，就像一个木杆倒塌的帐篷，一些地方被拆毁了的一堵墙，和一所被拆毁了的房子。
已经倒塌了的一堵墙的部分
一座建筑物被摧毁时还剩下的部分
或者是以色列人在这地区还没有攻取的，或者是以东人的。
NA
这两句的意思基本上是一样的，都是强调土地将非常富饶。
另译: “不会有人再将他们从地上拔出” “。“他们必永远住在这片土地上，如同植物扎根于土地”。
把植物和根从地里拔出来