I
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Amos of Tekoa and the Roar From Zion
1The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
1These are the words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa, and what he saw about Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and of Jeroboam son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
2And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.
2He said, "The LORD roars from Zion and lifts his voice from Jerusalem; the shepherds' pastures will mourn, and the top of Carmel will dry up."
Damascus
3Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:
3This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Damascus, and for four, I will not hold back its punishment, because they threshed Gilead with iron threshing sledges.
4But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad.
4So I will send fire on the house of Hazael, and it will burn up the palaces of Ben-hadad.
5I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the LORD.
5I will break the gate bar of Damascus; I will cut off the one who lives in the Valley of Aven and the one who holds the scepter in Beth-eden, and the people of Syria will go as captives to Kir," says the LORD.
Gaza and the Philistines
6Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:
6This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Gaza, and for four, I will not hold back its punishment, because they carried off whole communities as captives and handed them over to Edom.
7But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof:
7So I will send fire on the wall of Gaza, and it will burn up its palaces.
8And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord GOD.
8I will cut off the one who lives in Ashdod and the one who holds the scepter in Ashkelon; I will turn my hand against Ekron, and the last of the Philistines will die," says the Lord GOD.
Tyre
9Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant:
9This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Tyre, and for four, I will not hold back its punishment, because they handed over whole communities of captives to Edom and forgot the covenant of brotherhood.
10But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof.
10So I will send fire on the wall of Tyre, and it will burn up its palaces."
Edom
11Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever:
11This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Edom, and for four, I will not hold back its punishment, because he chased his brother with the sword and threw away all pity; his anger kept tearing without stopping, and he held onto his rage forever.
12But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah.
12So I will send fire on Teman, and it will burn up the palaces of Bozrah."
Ammon
13Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border:
13This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of the Ammonites, and for four, I will not hold back their punishment, because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to widen their own borders.
14But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:
14So I will set fire to the wall of Rabbah, and it will burn up its palaces, with battle cries on the day of fighting and with a storm on the day of the whirlwind.
15And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD.
15Their king will go into exile, he and his princes together," says the LORD.
II
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Moab
1Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:
1This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Moab, and for four, I will not hold back its punishment, because he burned the bones of the king of Edom down to lime.
2But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kirioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet:
2So I will send fire on Moab, and it will burn up the palaces of Kerioth; Moab will die in an uproar, with battle cries and the blast of the trumpet.
3And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith the LORD.
3I will cut off the ruler from among them and kill all the princes along with him," says the LORD.
Judah
4Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked:
4This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Judah, and for four, I will not hold back its punishment, because they have rejected the law of the LORD and have not kept his commands; their lies have led them astray, the same lies their ancestors followed.
5But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.
5So I will send fire on Judah, and it will burn up the palaces of Jerusalem."
Israel
6Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
6This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Israel, and for four, I will not hold back its punishment, because they sell the innocent for silver and the poor for a pair of sandals.
7That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name:
7They grind the heads of the poor into the dust of the ground and shove the humble out of their way; a man and his father go to the same girl, and so they disgrace my holy name.
8And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.
8They stretch out beside every altar on clothes taken as security for a loan, and in the house of their god they drink wine paid for with the fines they have imposed.
What God Did, and What Israel Did
9Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath.
9Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite ahead of them, though he was as tall as the cedars and as strong as the oaks; I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below.
10Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.
10I brought you up out of the land of Egypt and led you forty years through the wilderness so you could take the land of the Amorite.
11And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the LORD.
11I raised up some of your sons to be prophets and some of your young men to be Nazirites. Isn't that so, people of Israel?" says the LORD.
12But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.
12"But you gave the Nazirites wine to drink and ordered the prophets, 'Do not prophesy.'
No Escape for the Strong
13Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.
13Look, I am being crushed beneath you, the way a cart is crushed when it is piled high with grain.
14Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:
14So the fast runner will find no escape, the strong man will not keep his strength, and the warrior will not save his own life.
15Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself.
15The archer will not stand his ground, the quick-footed will not get away, and the horseman will not save his own life.
16And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith the LORD.
16Even the bravest of the warriors will run away naked on that day," says the LORD.
III
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Chosen, and Therefore Answerable
1Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
1Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, people of Israel, against the whole family I brought up out of the land of Egypt:
2You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
2"You alone have I known out of all the families of the earth; that is why I will punish you for all your sins."
The Lion Has Roared
3Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
3Can two people walk together if they are not in agreement?
4Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?
4Will a lion roar in the forest when it has no prey? Will a young lion growl from its den if it has caught nothing?
5Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
5Can a bird fall into a trap on the ground when no snare has been set for it? Does a trap spring up from the ground when it has caught nothing at all?
6Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
6If a trumpet sounds in a city, won't the people be afraid? If disaster strikes a city, hasn't the LORD done it?
7Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
7Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without first revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.
8The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
8The lion has roared; who would not be afraid? The Lord GOD has spoken; who could keep from prophesying?
Witnesses Called to Watch Samaria
9Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof.
9Announce it in the palaces of Ashdod and in the palaces of the land of Egypt, and say, "Gather on the mountains of Samaria and see the great turmoil inside her and the oppression in her midst."
10For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.
10"They do not know how to do what is right," says the LORD, "these people who pile up violence and robbery in their palaces."
11Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.
11Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: "An enemy will surround the land; he will pull down your strength, and your palaces will be plundered."
Two Legs and a Piece of an Ear
12Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.
12This is what the LORD says: "As a shepherd pulls from the lion's mouth only two legs or a piece of an ear, so the people of Israel who live in Samaria will be pulled out, with only the corner of a bed and a piece of a Damascus couch."
13Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,
13"Hear this, and testify against the house of Jacob," says the Lord GOD, the God of hosts.
14That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.
14"On the day I punish Israel for its sins, I will also punish the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.
15And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD.
15I will strike down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses of ivory will be destroyed, and the great houses will come to an end," says the LORD.
IV
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Cows of Bashan
1Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.
1Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on the mountain of Samaria, you who oppress the poor and crush the needy, who say to your husbands, "Bring us something to drink!"
2The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.
2The Lord GOD has sworn by his holiness: "Look, the days are coming when you will be dragged away with hooks, and the last of you with fishhooks.
3And ye shall go out at the breaches, every cow at that which is before her; and ye shall cast them into the palace, saith the LORD.
3You will go out through the breaks in the wall, each cow straight ahead of her, and you will be flung out toward the palace," says the LORD.
Come to Bethel and Sin
4Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years:
4"Come to Bethel and sin; at Gilgal sin even more. Bring your sacrifices every morning and your tithes after three years.
5And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
5Burn a thank offering made with yeast, and announce your freewill offerings out loud, because that is what you love to do, people of Israel," says the Lord GOD.
Yet Ye Have Not Returned Unto Me
6And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
6"I left your teeth clean in every one of your cities, with no bread anywhere you lived; yet you did not come back to me," says the LORD.
7And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.
7"I also held back the rain from you when the harvest was still three months away. I sent rain on one city and not on another; one field got rain, and the field with no rain dried up.
8So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
8So two or three cities staggered to one city for water to drink, but there was not enough; yet you did not come back to me," says the LORD.
9I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
9"I struck you with blight and mildew; when your gardens, vineyards, fig trees, and olive trees grew, the locusts ate them up; yet you did not come back to me," says the LORD.
10I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
10"I sent plague among you like the plagues of Egypt; I killed your young men with the sword and took away your horses; I made the stench of your camps rise into your nostrils; yet you did not come back to me," says the LORD.
11I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
11"I overthrew some of you as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a burning stick snatched from the fire; yet you did not come back to me," says the LORD.
Prepare to Meet Thy God
12Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.
12"So this is what I will do to you, Israel; and because I will do this to you, get ready to meet your God, Israel."
13For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.
13For look, the one who forms the mountains and creates the wind, who tells people what he is thinking, who turns the dawn into darkness and walks on the high places of the earth: the LORD, the God of hosts, is his name.
V
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
A Funeral Song for Israel
1Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel.
1Hear this word that I raise over you, house of Israel: a funeral song.
2The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; there is none to raise her up.
2Virgin Israel has fallen, never to rise again; she lies abandoned on her own land, and there is no one to lift her up.
3For thus saith the Lord GOD; The city that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred, and that which went forth by an hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel.
3For this is what the Lord GOD says: "The city that marched out with a thousand will have a hundred left, and the one that marched out with a hundred will have ten left, for the house of Israel."
Seek Me and Ye Shall Live
4For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:
4For this is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: "Seek me, and you will live.
5But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought.
5But do not seek Bethel, do not go into Gilgal, and do not cross over to Beersheba; for Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will come to nothing."
6Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel.
6Seek the LORD and you will live, or he will sweep through the house of Joseph like fire and burn it up, with no one in Bethel to put it out.
Wormwood, Orion, and the Sea
7Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,
7You who turn justice into something bitter and throw righteousness down to the ground,
8Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:
8seek the one who made the Seven Stars and Orion, who turns deep darkness into morning and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the earth: the LORD is his name.
9That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress.
9He gives strength to the plundered against the strong, so that the plundered march against the fortress.
Justice at the City Gate
10They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.
10They hate the one who calls out wrong at the city gate, and they despise the one who tells the truth.
11Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.
11So because you trample the poor and take a tax of grain from him, you have built houses of cut stone, but you will not live in them; you have planted lovely vineyards, but you will not drink their wine.
12For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.
12For I know how many your crimes are and how great your sins: you mistreat the innocent, you take bribes, and you push the poor aside at the city gate and deny them justice.
13Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.
13So the wise person keeps quiet at such a time, because it is an evil time.
Seek Good, and Not Evil
14Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.
14Seek good, not evil, so that you may live; then the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you, just as you claim he is.
15Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
15Hate evil, love good, and set up justice at the city gate; perhaps the LORD God of hosts will show mercy to what is left of Joseph.
Wailing in Every Street
16Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the LORD, saith thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing.
16Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord, says: "There will be wailing in every street, and in every public square they will cry, 'Oh no! Oh no!' They will call the farmer to mourn and the trained mourners to wail.
17And in all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD.
17There will be wailing in every vineyard, for I will pass through among you," says the LORD.
The Day of the LORD Is Darkness
18Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.
18How terrible for you who long for the day of the LORD! What good will it do you? The day of the LORD is darkness, not light.
19As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.
19It is like a man running from a lion and meeting a bear, or reaching his house, resting his hand against the wall, and getting bitten by a snake.
20Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?
20Won't the day of the LORD be darkness and not light, pitch black with no brightness in it at all?
I Hate Your Feast Days
21I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
21"I hate, I reject your feast days; I take no pleasure in the smell of your solemn gatherings.
22Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.
22Even if you offer me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them, and I will not look at the peace offerings of your fattened animals.
23Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
23Take the noise of your songs away from me; I will not listen to the music of your harps.
24But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
24Instead, let justice flow down like water, and righteousness like a mighty, rushing river.
Sacrifices in the Wilderness
25Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?
25Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, house of Israel?
26But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.
26No, you carried the shrine of your Moloch and Chiun, your idols, the star of your god, which you made for yourselves.
27Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts.
27So I will send you into exile beyond Damascus," says the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts.
VI
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Woe to Them That Are at Ease
1Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!
1How terrible for those who feel safe in Zion and trust in the mountain of Samaria, the famous men of the first among nations, to whom the house of Israel comes for help!
2Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?
2Go over to Calneh and look; from there go on to great Hamath; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are they better than these kingdoms? Is their land bigger than yours?
3Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;
3You push away the day of disaster and bring near a reign of violence.
Beds of Ivory and Bowls of Wine
4That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;
4You lie on beds of ivory and sprawl on your couches; you eat lambs from the flock and calves from the fattening stall.
5That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;
5You strum along to the sound of the harp and, like David, make up instruments of music for yourselves.
6That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
6You drink wine by the bowlful and rub the finest oils on yourselves, but you are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph.
7Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed.
7So now you will be the first to go into exile, and the feasting of the sprawlers will come to an end.
The LORD Swears by Himself
8The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.
8The Lord GOD has sworn by himself, says the LORD the God of hosts: "I detest the pride of Jacob and hate his palaces, so I will hand over the city and everything in it."
9And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die.
9If ten men are left in one house, they will die.
10And a man’s uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.
10When a relative, the one who burns the bodies, comes to carry the bones out of the house, he will ask someone hiding in the back of the house, "Is anyone else with you?" and the answer will be, "No." Then he will say, "Hush! We must not mention the name of the LORD."
11For, behold, the LORD commandeth, and he will smite the great house with breaches, and the little house with clefts.
11For look, the LORD gives the command, and the great house will be smashed to pieces and the small house to bits.
Horses on the Rock
12Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:
12Do horses run on rocky cliffs? Does anyone plow there with oxen? Yet you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into something bitter.
13Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?
13You rejoice over nothing at all and say, "Didn't we win our strength by our own power?"
14But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness.
14"But look, I am raising up a nation against you, house of Israel," says the LORD the God of hosts, "and they will oppress you all the way from the entrance of Hamath to the stream of the wilderness."
VII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Vision of the Locusts
1Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king’s mowings.
1This is what the Lord GOD showed me: he was forming a swarm of locusts just as the late crop began to sprout; it was the late crop after the king's share had been mowed.
2And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.
2When they had finished eating the grass of the land, I said, "Lord GOD, forgive us, I beg you! How will Jacob ever get back up? He is so small."
3The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, saith the LORD.
3The LORD relented about this. "It will not happen," said the LORD.
The Vision of the Fire
4Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part.
4This is what the Lord GOD showed me: the Lord GOD was calling for judgment by fire, and it dried up the great deep and was eating up the land.
5Then said I, O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.
5Then I said, "Lord GOD, stop, I beg you! How will Jacob ever get back up? He is so small."
6The LORD repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord GOD.
6The LORD relented about this too. "This will not happen either," said the Lord GOD.
The Plumbline
7Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the LORD stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand.
7This is what he showed me: the LORD was standing beside a wall built true to a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand.
8And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the LORD, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more:
8The LORD said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" I said, "A plumb line." Then the LORD said, "Watch: I am putting a plumb line right in the middle of my people Israel; I will not overlook them any longer.
9And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.
9The high places of Isaac will be left desolate, the sanctuaries of Israel will be laid waste, and I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the sword."
Amaziah Sends Amos Away
10Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.
10Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel: "Amos is plotting against you right in the middle of the house of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words.
11For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.
11For this is what Amos says: 'Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely be taken captive away from its own land.'"
12Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:
12Then Amaziah said to Amos, "Seer, go! Run away to the land of Judah; earn your bread there and do your prophesying there.
13But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king’s chapel, and it is the king’s court.
13But do not prophesy at Bethel anymore, because it is the king's sanctuary and the royal residence."
Amos Answers the Priest
14Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:
14Amos answered Amaziah, "I was no prophet, and I was not a prophet's son either; I was a herdsman and a tender of sycamore figs.
15And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.
15But the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'
16Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.
16So now hear the word of the LORD. You say, 'Do not prophesy against Israel, and do not preach against the house of Isaac.'
17Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.
17Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, your sons and daughters will fall by the sword, your land will be measured out and divided, and you yourself will die in an unclean land; and Israel will surely go into exile away from its own land.'"
VIII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Basket of Summer Fruit
1Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit.
1This is what the Lord GOD showed me: a basket of summer fruit.
2And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.
2He said, "Amos, what do you see?" I said, "A basket of summer fruit." Then the LORD said to me, "The end has come for my people Israel; I will not overlook them any longer.
3And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord GOD: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence.
3On that day the songs of the temple will turn into howls," says the Lord GOD. "There will be dead bodies everywhere, thrown out in silence."
Cheating the Poor at Market
4Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,
4Hear this, you who swallow up the needy and wipe out the poor of the land,
5Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?
5saying, "When will the new moon festival be over so we can sell grain, and the Sabbath so we can put out the wheat, shrinking the measure, raising the price, and rigging the scales to cheat,
6That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?
6so we can buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, and even sell the sweepings of the wheat?"
The Sun Goes Down at Noon
7The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works.
7The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: "I will surely never forget anything they have done.
8Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? and it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.
8Won't the land shake because of this, and everyone who lives in it mourn? The whole land will rise like the Nile, be tossed about, and sink again like the river of Egypt.
9And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:
9On that day," says the Lord GOD, "I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.
10And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.
10I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into funeral songs; I will put sackcloth on every waist and shave every head; I will make it like mourning for an only son, and its end like a bitter day.
A Famine of Hearing God's Word
11Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
11Look, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD, "when I will send a famine on the land, not a hunger for bread or a thirst for water, but a hunger to hear the words of the LORD.
12And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
12People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, running back and forth in search of the word of the LORD, but they will not find it.
13In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.
13On that day the beautiful young women and the young men will faint from thirst.
14They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beersheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again.
14Those who swear by the sin of Samaria and say, 'As your god lives, Dan,' and, 'As the way of Beersheba lives,' they will fall and never get up again."
IX
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
No Place to Hide
1I saw the LORD standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered.
1I saw the LORD standing beside the altar, and he said, "Strike the tops of the pillars so hard that the doorposts shake, and bring them crashing down on everyone's heads. Whoever is left, I will kill with the sword. Not one of them who runs will get away; not one of them who escapes will be saved.
2Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:
2Even if they dig their way down into the grave, my hand will pull them out of it. Even if they climb up into the sky, I will bring them down from there.
3And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:
3Even if they hide on the top of Mount Carmel, I will hunt them down and take them from there. Even if they hide from my sight at the bottom of the sea, I will command the sea serpent there, and it will bite them.
4And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good.
4Even if they are marched off as prisoners ahead of their enemies, I will command the sword there, and it will kill them. I have fixed my eyes on them to bring them harm, not good."
The Third Hymn
5And the Lord GOD of hosts is he that toucheth the land, and it shall melt, and all that dwell therein shall mourn: and it shall rise up wholly like a flood; and shall be drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.
5The Lord GOD of heaven's armies is the one who touches the land and it melts, and everyone living in it mourns; the whole land rises like a river and sinks back down, like the flooding Nile of Egypt.
6It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.
6He is the one who builds his upper rooms in the heavens and sets their foundation on the earth; he calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the earth. The LORD is his name.
Sifted Among the Nations
7Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children of Israel? saith the LORD. Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?
7"People of Israel, are you not just like the people of Ethiopia to me?" says the LORD. "Yes, I brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, but I also brought the Philistines from Caphtor and the Syrians from Kir.
8Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD.
8Look, the eyes of the Lord GOD are on this sinful kingdom, and I will wipe it off the face of the earth. Yet I will not completely destroy the family of Jacob," says the LORD.
9For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.
9"For watch: I will give the order, and I will shake the people of Israel among all the nations the way grain is shaken in a sieve, and not one true kernel will fall to the ground.
10All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.
10All the sinners among my people will die by the sword, the ones who say, 'Disaster will never catch up with us or reach us.'
The Fallen Booth of David
11In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
11"In that day I will raise up David's fallen tent and repair its broken walls. I will raise up its ruins and rebuild it as it was in days long ago,
12That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.
12so that they may take over what is left of Edom and all the nations that carry my name," says the LORD, who will do this.
The Plowman Overtakes the Reaper
13Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.
13"Look, the days are coming," says the LORD, "when the plowman will catch up with the one harvesting, and the grape-treader will catch up with the one planting seed. The mountains will drip with sweet wine, and all the hills will flow with it.
14And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
14I will bring my people Israel back from captivity. They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; they will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.
15And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.
15I will plant them in their own land, and they will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them," says the LORD your God.