Amos

1

Introduction

1 This is the message of Amos, one of the shepherds from the city Tekoa. He saw visions about Israel during the time that Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Joash was king of Israel. This was two years before the earthquake.

Punishment for Aram

2 Amos said,

“ The LORD will shout like a lion in Zion.

His loud voice will roar from Jerusalem.

The green pastures of the shepherds will turn brown and die.

Even Mount Carmel+ 1:2 Mount Carmel A mountain in northern Israel. The name means “God’s vineyard.” This shows that it was a very fertile hill. will become dry.”

3 This is what the LORD says: “ I will definitely punish the people of Damascus for the many crimes they did.+ 1:3 for the many crimes they did Literally, “for three crimes … and for four ….” This shows that these people were very sinful—and it was time to punish them. Also in verses 6, 9, 11, 13; 2:1, 4, 6. They crushed the people of Gilead with iron threshing tools. 4 So I will start a fire at Hazael’s+ 1:4 Hazael Hazael was the king of Aram (Syria). He murdered Ben-Hadad I so that he could become king. See 2 Kings 8:7. house that will destroy the great palaces of Ben-Hadad.+ 1:4 Ben-Hadad Ben-Hadad II, the son of Hazael, king of Aram (Syria). See 2 Kings 13:3.

5 “ I will also break open the gates of Damascus+ 1:5 Damascus The capital city of Aram (Syria). and remove the one who sits on the throne in the Valley of Aven.+ 1:5 the Valley of Aven A name that can mean “Restful Valley” or “Empty Valley of Misfortune.” I will remove the symbol of power from Beth Eden,+ 1:5 Beth Eden The royal city of Aram (Syria) on Mount Lebanon. This name means “House of Pleasure” or “Paradise.” and the Arameans will be defeated and taken back to Kir.+ 1:5 Kir Or “Kur,” an area controlled by the Assyrians. See Amos 9:7.” This is what the LORD said.

Punishment for the Philistines

6 This is what the LORD says: “ I will definitely punish the people of Gaza+ 1:6 Gaza An important city of the Philistines. for the many crimes they did. They took an entire nation of people and sent them as slaves to Edom. 7 So I will start a fire at the wall of Gaza that will destroy the high towers in Gaza. 8 And I will destroy the one who sits on the throne in Ashdod. I will destroy the king who holds the scepter in Ashkelon. I will punish the people of Ekron.+ 1:8 Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron Important cities of the Philistines. Then the Philistines who are still left alive will die.” This is what the Lord GOD said.

Punishment for Phoenicia

9 This is what the LORD says: “ I will definitely punish the people of Tyre+ 1:9 Tyre The capital city of Phoenicia. for the many crimes they did. They took an entire nation and sent them as slaves to Edom. They did not remember the agreement they had made with their brothers.+ 1:9 brothers The people of Israel.10 So I will start a fire at the walls of Tyre that will destroy the high towers in Tyre.”

Punishment for the Edomites

11 This is what the LORD says: “ I will definitely punish the people of Edom for their many crimes. Edom chased his brother with the sword, and he showed no mercy. His anger never stopped. He kept tearing and tearing at Israel like a wild animal. 12 So I will start a fire at Teman that will destroy the high towers of Bozrah.”

Punishment for the Ammonites

13 This is what the LORD says: “ I will definitely punish the Ammonites+ 1:13 Ammonites The Ammonites were the descendants of Ben-Ammi, son of Lot. Read Genesis 19:38. for the many crimes they did. They killed the pregnant women in Gilead. The Ammonites did this so that they could take that land and make their country larger. 14 So I will start a fire at the wall of Rabbah+ 1:14 Rabbah The capital city of the Ammonites. that will destroy the high towers of Rabbah. Troubles will come to them like a whirlwind+ 1:14 whirlwind A strong wind that blows in a circle. into their country. 15 Then their kings and leaders will be captured. They will all be taken together.” This is what the LORD said.

2

Punishment for Moab

1 This is what the LORD says: “ I will definitely punish the people of Moab for the many crimes they did. Moab burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime. 2 So I will start a fire in Moab that will destroy the high towers of Kerioth.+ 2:2 Kerioth A city in Moab. This might be Ar, the capital city of Moab. There will be terrible shouting and the sounds of a trumpet, and Moab will die. 3 So I will bring an end to the kings+ 2:3 kings Literally, “judges.” of Moab, and I will kill all the leaders of Moab.” This is what the LORD said.

Punishment for Judah

4 This is what the LORD says: “ I will definitely punish Judah for the many crimes they did. They refused to obey the LORD’S teachings and they did not keep his commands. Their ancestors believed lies, and those same lies caused the people of Judah to stop following God. 5 So I will start a fire in Judah that will destroy the high towers of Jerusalem.”

Punishment for Israel

6 This is what the LORD says: “ I will definitely punish Israel for the many crimes they have done. They sold honest people for a little silver. They sold the poor for the price of a pair of sandals. 7 They pushed their faces into the ground and walked on them. They stopped listening to suffering people. Fathers and sons had sexual relations with the same woman. They ruined my holy name. 8 They took clothes from the poor, and then they sat on those clothes while worshiping at their altars. They loaned money to the poor, and then they took their clothes as a promise for payment.+ 2:8 as a promise for payment. See Deuteronomy 24:12-13 for the rules about making loans to the poor. They made people pay fines and used the money to buy wine for themselves to drink in the temple of their god.

9 “ But it was I who destroyed the Amorites+ 2:9 Amorites One of the nations who lived in Canaan before the Israelites came. They were the people who scared the Israelites while Moses was leading them in the desert. See Num. 13:33. before them. They were as tall as cedar trees and as strong as oaks, but I destroyed their fruit above and their roots below.+ 2:9 fruit above … below This means the parents and their children.

10 “ I was the one who brought you from the land of Egypt. For 40 years I led you through the desert. I helped you take the Amorites’ land. 11 I made some of your sons to be prophets and some of your young men to be Nazirites. People of Israel, it is true.” This is what the LORD said. 12 “ But you made the Nazirites drink wine. You told the prophets not to prophesy. 13 You have become more than I can bear. I am bent low like a wagon loaded with grain. 14 No one will escape, not even the fastest runner. Strong men will not be strong enough. Soldiers will not be able to save themselves. 15 People with bows and arrows will not survive. Fast runners will not escape. People on horses will not escape alive. 16 At that time even very brave soldiers will run away. They will not take the time to put their clothes on.” This is what the LORD said.

3

Warning to Israel

1 People of Israel, listen to this message! This is what the LORD said about you, Israel. This message is about all the families that I brought from the land of Egypt. 2 “ There are many families on earth, but you are the only family I chose to know in a special way. And you turned against me, so I will punish you for all your sins.”

The Cause of Israel’s Punishment

3 Two people will not walk together

unless they have agreed to do so.

4 A lion will roar in the forest

only if it catches its prey.

A young lion roaring in his cave

means he has caught something to eat.

5 A bird doesn’t fly into a trap

unless there is food in it.

If a trap closes,

it will catch the bird.

6 If people hear the warning blast of a trumpet,

they shake with fear.

If trouble comes to a city,

the LORD caused it to happen.

7 When the Lord GOD decides to do something, he will first tell his servants, the prophets. 8 When a lion roars, people are frightened. When the Lord GOD speaks, a prophet must prophesy.

9 Go to the high towers in Ashdod+ 3:9-10 Ashdod An important city of the Philistines. and in Egypt and announce this message from the LORD: “Come together on the mountains of Samaria. See the great confusion there because the people don’t know how to live right. See how cruel they are to others. They take things from people to hide in their high towers. Their treasuries are filled with the things they have taken in war.”

11 So the Lord GOD says, “ An enemy will surround your land. They will break down your strong walls and take the things you have hidden in your high towers.”

12 The LORD says,

“ A lion might attack a lamb,

and a shepherd might try to save the lamb.

But the shepherd will save

only a part of that lamb.

He might pull two legs

or a part of an ear from the lion’s mouth.

In the same way, most of the people of Israel will not be saved.

Those who live in Samaria will save only a corner from a bed,

or a piece of cloth from a couch.”

13 This is what the Lord GOD All-Powerful says: “ Warn the family of Jacob about these things. 14 Israel sinned, and I will punish them for their sins. And when I do, I will also destroy the altars at Bethel.+ 3:14 Bethel A town in Israel. This name means “God’s house.” 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 be destroyed. Many houses will be destroyed.” This is what the LORD said.

4

The Women Who Love Pleasure

1 Listen to me, you cows of Bashan+ 4:1 cows of Bashan This means the wealthy women in Samaria. Bashan, an area east of the Jordan River, was famous for its big bulls and cows. on Samaria’s mountain. You hurt the poor and crush those in need. You tell your husbands,+ 4:1 your husbands Literally, “their masters.” “ Bring us something to drink!”

2 The Lord GOD made a promise. He promised by his holiness that troubles will come to you. People will use hooks and take you away as prisoners. They will use fishhooks to take away your children. 3 Your city will be destroyed. The women will rush out through cracks in the wall and throw themselves onto the pile of dead bodies.+ 4:3 throw … dead bodies Or “You will be thrown away. People will take you to Mount Hermon.” The Hebrew text here is hard to understand. It is not clear if the women will be “thrown away” or if the women will be “throwing something away.”

This is what the LORD says: 4 “ Go to Bethel and sin. Go to Gilgal+ 4:4 Bethel … Gilgal Places of worship for the people of Israel. God wanted the people of Israel and the people of Judah to worship him only in the Temple at Jerusalem. and sin even more. Offer your sacrifices in the morning. Bring a tenth of your crops for the three-day festival. 5 And offer a thank offering made with yeast. Tell everyone about the freewill offerings.+ 4:5 Offer your sacrifices … freewill offerings All these things were against the Law of Moses. The leaders and false priests started these new festivals and different ways of worshiping God. Israel, you love to do those things. So go and do them.” This is what the Lord GOD said.

6 “ I didn’t give you any food to eat.+ 4:6 I didn’t give you any food to eat Literally, “I gave you clean teeth.” There was no food in any of your cities, but you didn’t come back to me.” This is what the LORD said.

7 “ I also stopped the rain, and it was three months before harvest time. So no crops grew. Then I let it rain on one city, but not on another city. Rain fell on one part of the country, but on the other part of the country, the land became very dry. 8 So the people from two or three cities staggered to another city to get water, but there was not enough water for everyone. Still you didn’t come to me for help.” This is what the LORD said.

9 “ I made your crops die from heat and disease. I destroyed your gardens and your vineyards. Locusts ate your fig trees and olive trees. But you still didn’t come to me for help.” This is what the LORD said.

10 “ I sent diseases against you, as I did to Egypt. I killed your young men with swords. I took away your horses. I made your camp smell very bad from all the dead bodies, but still you didn’t come back to me for help.” This is what the LORD said.

11 “ I destroyed you as I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. And those cities were completely destroyed. You were like a burned stick pulled from a fire, but still you didn’t come back to me for help.” This is what the LORD says.

12 “ So, Israel, this is what I will do to you. You people of Israel, prepare to meet your God.”

13 He is the one who made the mountains.

He created the wind.+ 4:13 the wind Or “your minds.”

He lets people know his thoughts.

He changes the darkness into dawn.

He walks over the mountains of the earth.

His name is YAHWEH, LORD God All-Powerful.

5

A Sad Song for Israel

1 People of Israel, listen to this song. This funeral song is about you.

2 The virgin+ 5:2 virgin The Hebrew word can mean “a woman who has not had sexual relations with anyone,” but here, it means the city of Samaria. of Israel has fallen.

She will not get up anymore.

She was left alone, lying in the dirt.

There is no one to lift her up.

3 This is what the Lord GOD says:

“Officers leaving the city with 1000 men

will return with only 100 men.

Officers leaving the city with 100 men

will return with only ten men.”

The Lord Encourages Israel to Come Back

4 The LORD says this to the nation+ 5:4 nation Literally, “house.” This might mean the royal family of that country. of Israel:

“Come looking for me and live.

5 But don’t look in Bethel.

Don’t go to Gilgal.

Don’t cross the border and go down to Beersheba.+ 5:5 Bethel, Gilgal, Beersheba Ancient places of worship. Abraham and Jacob built altars in these places, but God had told the Israelites that they should go to the Temple in Jerusalem to worship him.

The people of Gilgal will be taken away as prisoners,+ 5:5 taken away as prisoners In Hebrew this sounds like the name “Gilgal.”

and Bethel will be destroyed.+ 5:5 destroyed The Hebrew word is like the name “Beth Aven.” This name means “House of Wickedness.” The prophets often used this name for Bethel.

6 Come to the LORD and live.

If you don’t go to him, a fire will start at Joseph’s house,+ 5:6 Joseph’s house Here, this means the ten-tribe nation of Israel. Joseph was the ancestor of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh in Israel.

and no one in Bethel+ 5:6 Bethel This name means “El’s house” or “the house of God.” There was a temple here where the people from the northern tribes worshiped. can stop it.

7 You should go to the Lord for help.

He is the one who made the Pleiades and Orion.+ 5:7-9 Pleiades and Orion Two well-known groups of stars (constellations).

He changes darkness into the morning light.

He changes the day into the dark night.

He calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the earth.

His name is YAHWEH!

He keeps one strong city safe,

and he lets another strong city be destroyed.”

The Evil Things That the Israelites Did

You change justice to poison.+ 5:7-9 poison Literally, “wormwood,” a type of plant with bitter leaves. It could be used as a medicine, or if strong enough, as a poison.

You throw away fairness like trash.

10 You hate those prophets, who go to public places and speak against evil,

even though they teach good, simple truths.

11 You take unfair taxes+ 5:11 take unfair taxes The meaning of the Hebrew word here is uncertain. from the poor.

You take loads of wheat from them.

You build fancy houses with cut stone,

but you will not live in them.

You plant beautiful vineyards,

but you will not drink the wine from them.

12 This is because I know about your many sins.

You have done some very bad things:

You hurt people who do right,

you accept money to do wrong,

and you keep the poor from receiving justice in court.

13 At that time wise teachers will be quiet,

because it is a bad time.

14 You say that God is with you,

so you should do good things, not evil.

Then you will live,

and the LORD God All-Powerful will be with you.

15 Hate evil and love goodness.

Bring justice back into the courts.

Maybe then the LORD God All-Powerful

will be kind to the survivors from Joseph’s family.

A Time of Great Sadness Is Coming

16 The Lord, the LORD God All-Powerful says,

“ People will be crying in the public places.

They will be crying in the streets.

They will hire the professional criers.+ 5:16 professional criers People who went to funerals and cried loudly for the dead. Families and friends of the dead person often gave food or money to these people.

17 People will be crying in the vineyards,

because I will pass through and punish you.”

This is what the LORD said.

18 Some of you want to see

the LORD’S special day of judgment.

Why do you want to see that day of the LORD?

His special day will bring darkness, not light.

19 You will be like someone who escapes from a lion

only to be attacked by a bear,

or like someone who goes into the safety of his house,

leans against the wall,

and is bitten by a snake.

20 The LORD’S special day will be

a day of darkness, not light— a day of gloom, without a ray of light.

The Lord Rejects Israel’s Worship

21 “ I hate your festivals;

I will not accept them.

I don’t enjoy your religious meetings.

22 Even if you offer me burnt offerings and grain offerings,

I will not accept them.

I will not even look at the fat animals

you give as fellowship offerings.

23 Take your noisy songs away from here.

I will not listen to the music from your harps.

24 But let justice flow like a river,

and let goodness flow like a stream that never becomes dry.

25 Israel, you offered me sacrifices

and offerings in the desert for 40 years.+ 5:25 Or “Israel, did you offer me sacrifices and offerings in the desert for 40 years?”

26 But you also carried statues of Sakkuth, your king, and Kaiwan.+ 5:26 Sakkuth, your king, and Kaiwan Or “Sakkuth, Moloch, and Kaiwan,” names of Assyrian gods.

There was also that star god+ 5:26 star god This might be to honor a special god or all the stars in the sky. Many people thought the sun, moon, stars, and planets were gods or angels. This verse might also be translated, “You carried the shelter for your king and the footstool for your idols—the star of your gods that you made for yourselves.” The ancient Greek version adds the names of these gods: Moloch and Raphan. that you made for yourselves.

27 So I will send you as captives, far beyond Damascus.”

This is what the LORD says.

His name is God All-Powerful.

6

Israel’s Good Times Will Be Taken Away

1 Oh, look at the people enjoying life in Zion,

and those on Mount Samaria who feel so safe.

They are such important leaders of a most important nation.

The “ House of Israel” comes to you for advice.

2 Go look at Calneh.

From there, go to the large city Hamath.

Go to the Philistine city of Gath.+ 6:2 Calneh, Hamath, Gath Powerful Babylonian, Syrian, and Philistine cities that were all captured by the Assyrians.

Are you better than these kingdoms?

Their countries are larger than yours.

3 You people are rushing toward the day of punishment.

You bring near the rule of violence.

4 But now you lie on ivory beds

and stretch out on your couches.

You eat tender young lambs from the flock

and young calves from the stable.

5 You play your harps,

and like David, you practice on+ 6:5 practice on Or “invent.” The Hebrew word means to “think,” “become skilled,” or “design.” your musical instruments.

6 You drink wine in fancy cups.+ 6:6 fancy cups Very large bowls used in worship rituals.

You use the best perfumes.

And it doesn’t even bother you

that Joseph’s family is being destroyed.

7 You people are stretched out on your couches now, but your good times will end. You will be taken away as prisoners to a foreign country, and you will be some of the first people taken. 8 The Lord GOD used his own name and made an oath. The LORD God All-Powerful said,

“ I hate what Jacob is proud of.

I hate his strong towers.

So I will let an enemy take the city

and everything in it.”

There Will Be Few Israelites Left Alive

9 At that time ten people in one house might survive, but they too will die. 10 And when someone dies, a relative will come to get the body so that it can be taken out and burned.+ 6:10 And when … burned The meaning of the Hebrew text here is uncertain. Relatives will come to take away the bones. They will call to anyone who might be hiding back in the house, “ Are there any other dead bodies in there with you?”

That person will answer, “ No, ….”+ 6:10 No, … The full answer might have been, “No, praise the LORD,” but the person was interrupted.

But the relative will interrupt and say, “Hush! We must not mention the name of the LORD.”

11 Look, the LORD will give the command,

and the large houses will be broken to pieces,

and the small houses will be broken to small pieces.

12 Do horses run over loose rocks?

No, and people don’t use cows for plowing.

But you turned everything upside down.

You changed justice and goodness to bitter poison.

13 You are so excited about defeating Lo Debar.+ 6:13 Lo Debar This name means “nothing.”

And you boast, “ We have taken Karnaim+ 6:13 Karnaim This name means “horns.” Horns were a symbol of strength. by our own strength.”

14 “ But Israel, I will bring a nation against you that will bring troubles to your whole country from Lebo Hamath to Arabah Brook.” This is what the LORD God All-Powerful said.

7

The Vision of the Locusts

1 This is what the Lord GOD showed me: He was making locusts. This was at the time the second crop began to grow, after the king’s people had cut the first crop. 2 Before the locusts could eat all the grass in the country, I said, “ Lord GOD, I beg you, forgive us! Jacob cannot survive! He is too small!”

3 Then the LORD changed his mind about this. The LORD said, “ It will not happen.”

The Vision of the Fire

4 This is what the Lord GOD showed me: I saw the Lord GOD calling for judgment by fire. The fire destroyed the ocean and was beginning to eat up the land. 5 But I said, “ Lord GOD, stop, I beg you! Jacob cannot survive! He is too small!”

6 Then the LORD changed his mind about this. The Lord GOD said, “ It will not happen either.”

The Vision of the Plumb Line

7 This is what the Lord showed me: He stood by a wall with a plumb line+ 7:7 plumb line A string with a weight on one end used to show how straight the walls of a building were. Sometimes the line was coated with paint or chalk to mark a straight line. in his hand. ( The wall had been marked with a plumb line.) 8 The LORD said to me, “ Amos, what do you see?”

I said, “ A plumb line.”

Then the Lord said to me, “ See, I will put a plumb line among my people Israel. I will not let their ‘crooked ways’ pass inspection anymore. 9 Isaac’s high places will be destroyed. Israel’s holy places will be made into a pile of rocks. I will attack and kill Jeroboam’s+ 7:9 Jeroboam The king of Israel. See verse 10. family with swords.”

Amaziah Tries to Stop Amos

10 Amaziah, a priest at Bethel,+ 7:10 Bethel A town in Israel. This name means “God’s house.” sent this message to Jeroboam, the king of Israel: “ Amos is making plans against you. He is trying to make the people of Israel fight against you. He has been speaking so much that this country cannot hold all his words. 11 Amos has said, ‘ Jeroboam will die by the sword, and the people of Israel will be taken as prisoners out of their country.’”

12 Amaziah also said to Amos, “ You seer, go down to Judah and eat there.+ 7:12 eat there This shows that Amaziah thought that Amos was a professional prophet who prophesied to receive food or money. Do your prophesying there. 13 But don’t prophesy anymore here at Bethel. This is Jeroboam’s holy place. This is Israel’s temple.”

14 Then Amos answered Amaziah, “ I am not a professional prophet, and I am not from a prophet’s family. I raise cattle and take care of sycamore trees. 15 I was a shepherd and the LORD took me from following the sheep. The LORD said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ 16 So listen to the LORD’S message. You tell me, ‘ Don’t prophesy against Israel. Don’t speak against Isaac’s family.’ 17 But the LORD says, ‘ Your wife will become a prostitute in the city. Your sons and daughters will be killed with swords. Other people will take your land and divide it among themselves, and you will die in a foreign+ 7:17 foreign Literally, “unclean.” See “unclean” in the Word List. country. The people of Israel will definitely be taken from this country as prisoners.’”

8

The Vision of the Ripe Fruit

1 This is what the Lord GOD showed me: I saw a basket of summer fruit. 2 He said to me, “ Amos, what do you see?”

I said, “ A basket of summer fruit.”

Then the LORD said to me, “ The end+ 8:2 end This Hebrew word sounds like the word for “summer fruit.” has come to my people Israel. I will not ignore their sins anymore. 3 Their temple songs will become funeral songs.” This is what the Lord GOD said. “ There will be dead bodies everywhere. In silence, people will take out the dead bodies and throw them onto the pile.+ 8:3 In silence … the pile Or “People will be saying, ‘Hush!’” See Amos 6:10.”

Merchants Only Want to Make Money

4 Listen to me, you who trample on helpless people.

You are trying to destroy the poor of this country.

5 You merchants say,

“ When will the New Moon be over so that we can sell grain?

When will the Sabbath be over

so that we can bring out more wheat to sell?

We can raise the price

and make the measure smaller.+ 8:5 We … smaller Literally, “We will make the ephah small and the shekel large.”

We can fix the scales

and cheat the people.+ 8:5 We … people Literally, “Cheat with lying balances.”

6 The poor cannot pay their loans,

so we will buy them as slaves.

We will buy those helpless people

for the price of a pair of sandals.

Oh, and we can sell the wheat

that was spilled on the floor.”

7 The LORD made a promise. He used his name, “ Pride of Jacob,” and made this promise:

“ I will never forget what those people did.

8 There will be an earthquake

that will shake the whole land because of what they did.

Everyone living there will cry for those who died.

The land will be tossed around.

The whole land will rise and fall like the Nile River in Egypt.”

9 The Lord GOD also said,

“ At that time I will make the sun set at noon

and make the land dark on a clear day.

10 I will change your festivals into days of crying for the dead.

All your songs will be songs of sadness for those who are dead.

I will put mourning clothes on every body

and baldness on every head.+ 8:10 baldness … head People shaved their heads to show that they were very sad or upset.

I will cause mourning everywhere,

like that for an only son who has died.

It will be a very bitter end.”

A Famine of God’s Word

11 The Lord GOD says,

“ Look, the days are coming

when I will cause a famine in the land.

The people will not be hungry for bread.

They will not be thirsty for water.

No, they will be hungry for words from the LORD.

12 The people will wander around the country,

from the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean Sea,

and from the north part of the country to the east.

They will go back and forth looking for a message from the LORD,

but they will not find it.

13 At that time the beautiful young men and women

will become weak from thirst.

14 They made promises by the sin of Samaria,+ 8:14 sin of Samaria The calf god in Samaria.

They said, ‘ Dan,+ 8:14 Dan One of Israel’s holy places was in this city. as surely as your god lives, we promise ….’

And they said, ‘ As surely as the god of Beersheba+ 8:14 Beersheba A town in Judah. This name means “well of the oath.” lives, we promise ….’

But they will fall

and never get up again.”

9

Vision of the Lord Standing by the Altar

1 I saw the Lord standing by the altar, and he said,

“ Hit the top of the columns,

and shake them to the ground.

Push them and they will fall

on everyone’s head.

As for those who survive,

I will kill them with a sword.

None of them will run away.

None of them will escape.

2 If they dig deep into the ground,+ 9:2 ground Literally, “Sheol, the place of the dead.”

I will pull them from there.

If they go up into the skies,+ 9:2 skies Or “heaven.”

I will bring them down from there.

3 If they hide at the top of Mount Carmel,+ 9:3 Mount Carmel A mountain in northern Israel. This name means “God’s vineyard.” This shows that it was a very fertile hill.

I will find them there and take them from that place.

If they try to hide from me at the bottom of the sea,

I will command the snake, and it will bite them.

4 If they are captured and taken away by their enemies,

I will command the sword,

and it will kill them there.

Yes, I will watch over them,

but I will watch for ways to give them troubles,

not for ways to do good things.”

Punishment Will Destroy the People

5 The Lord GOD All-Powerful will touch the land,

and the land will melt.

Then all the people who live in the land will cry for the dead.

The land will rise and fall

like the Nile River in Egypt.

6 He built his upper rooms above the skies.

He put his skies+ 9:6 skies Literally, “dome” or “vault.” over the earth.

He calls for the waters of the sea

and pours them out as rain on the land.

YAHWEH is his name.

The Lord Promises Destruction for Israel

7 This is what the LORD says:

“ Israel, you are like the Ethiopians to me.

I brought Israel out of the land of Egypt,

the Philistines from Caphtor,+ 9:7 Caphtor An island west of Israel, probably Crete or Cyprus.

and the Arameans from Kir.+ 9:7 Kir Where the Arameans came from and where the Assyrians sent them in exile. There are several places with this name.”

8 The Lord GOD is watching this sinful kingdom.

The LORD says,

“ I will wipe Israel off the face of the earth,

but I will never completely destroy Jacob’s family.

9 I am giving the command

to scatter the people of Israel among all nations.

But it will be like someone sifting flour.

A person shakes flour through a sifter.+ 9:9 sifter Something like a cup with a screen on its bottom. A sifter is used for removing large lumps from the good flour.

The good flour falls through, but the bad lumps are caught.

10 “ Sinners among my people say,

‘ Nothing bad will happen to us.’

But all of them will be killed with swords.”

God Promises to Restore the Kingdom

11 “ David’s tent+ 9:11 David’s tent This probably means the city of Jerusalem or the country of Judah. has fallen,

but at that time I will set it up again.

I will fix its holes and repair its ruined parts.

I will set it up as it was before.

12 Then the people left alive in Edom,

and all the people called by my name, will look to me for help.”

This is what the LORD said,

and he will make it happen.

13 The LORD says, “ A time of great blessing is coming.

Workers will still be harvesting

when it is time to plow the fields again.

They will still be trampling the grapes

when it is time for a new crop.

Sweet wine will drip from the mountains

and pour from the hills.

14 I will bring my people, Israel,

back from captivity.

They will rebuild the ruined cities,

and they will live in them.

They will plant vineyards

and drink the wine they produce.

They will plant gardens

and eat the crops they produce.

15 I will plant my people on their land,

and never again will they be pulled up out of the land that I gave them.”

This is what the LORD your God said.