The Locusts, Fire, and Plumbline

(Joel 2:1-11)

1Thus has the Lord GOD showed to me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, see, it was the latter growth after the king's mowings.

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 you: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.

3The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, said the LORD.

4Thus has the Lord GOD showed to me: and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part.

5Then said I, O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech you: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.

6The LORD repented for this: This also shall not be, said the Lord GOD.

7Thus he showed me: and, behold, the LORD stood on a wall made by a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand.

8And the LORD said to me, Amos, what see you? And I said, A plumb line. Then said the LORD, Behold, I will set a plumb line in the middle of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more:

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.

Amaziah Accuses Amos

10Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos has conspired against you in the middle of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words. 11For thus Amos said, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land. 12Also Amaziah said to Amos, O you seer, go, flee you away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there: 13But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court.

14Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdsman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: 15And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said to me, Go, prophesy to my people Israel. 16Now therefore hear you the word of the LORD: You say, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not your word against the house of Isaac. 17Therefore thus said the LORD; Your wife shall be an harlot in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided by line; and you shall die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.