Amos 4:12
New International Version
“Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, Israel, prepare to meet your God.”

New Living Translation
“Therefore, I will bring upon you all the disasters I have announced. Prepare to meet your God in judgment, you people of Israel!”

English Standard Version
“Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”

Berean Standard Bible
“Therefore, that is what I will do to you, O Israel, and since I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!

King James Bible
Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

New King James Version
“Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”

New American Standard Bible
“Therefore so I will do to you, Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, Israel.”

NASB 1995
“Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel.”

NASB 1977
“Therefore, thus I will do to you, O Israel; Because I shall do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel.”

Legacy Standard Bible
“Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel.”

Amplified Bible
“Therefore this is what I shall do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God [in judgment], O Israel!”

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, Israel, that is what I will do to you, and since I will do that to you, Israel, prepare to meet your God!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, Israel, that is what I will do to you, and since I will do that to you, Israel, prepare to meet your God!

American Standard Version
Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel; and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

Contemporary English Version
Now, Israel, I myself will deal with you. Get ready to face your God!

English Revised Version
Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
This is what I will do to you, Israel. Prepare to meet your God. This is what I will do to you, Israel!

Good News Translation
"So then, people of Israel, I am going to punish you. And because I am going to do this, get ready to face my judgment!"

International Standard Version
"Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel. Because I am about to do this, prepare to be summoned to your God, Israel!"

Majority Standard Bible
“Therefore, that is what I will do to you, O Israel, and since I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!

NET Bible
"Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel. Because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, Israel!

New Heart English Bible
"Therefore thus will I do to you, Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, Israel.

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore thus will I do to thee, O Israel: and because I will do this to thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

World English Bible
“Therefore I will do this to you, Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, Israel.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Therefore, thus I do to you, O Israel, at last, "" Because this I do to you, "" Prepare to meet your God, O Israel.”

Young's Literal Translation
Therefore, thus I do to thee, O Israel, at last, Because this I do to thee, Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

Smith's Literal Translation
For this, thus will I do to thee, O Israel: because that I will do this to thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore I will do these things to thee, O Israel: and after I shall have done these things to thee, be prepared to meet thy God, O Israel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Because of this, I will do these things to you, Israel. But after I have done these things to you, Israel, be prepared to meet your God.

New American Bible
Therefore thus I will do to you, Israel: and since I will deal thus with you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!

New Revised Standard Version
Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel, at the end; and because I will do this to you, prepare, O Israel, that you might call to your God.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because of these things, in this way shall I do to you Israel; afterward, because I do this to you, be ready, Israel, that you will call to your God
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel; Because I will do this unto thee, Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Therefore thus will I do to thee, O Israel: nay because I will do thus to thee, prepare to call on thy God, O Israel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Punishment Brings No Repentance
11“Some of you I overthrew as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD. 12“Therefore, that is what I will do to you, O Israel, and since I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel! 13For behold, He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind and reveals His thoughts to man, who turns the dawn to darkness and strides on the heights of the earth—the LORD, the God of Hosts, is His name.”…

Cross References
Isaiah 1:18-20
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool. / If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land. / But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Jeremiah 18:11
Now therefore, tell the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I am planning a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways, and correct your ways and deeds.’

Ezekiel 18:30-32
Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall. / Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? / For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!

Joel 2:12-14
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” / So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster. / Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him—grain and drink offerings for the LORD your God.

Hosea 6:1-3
Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds. / After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence. / So let us know—let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.

Zephaniah 2:1-3
Gather yourselves, gather together, O shameful nation, / before the decree takes effect and the day passes like chaff, before the burning anger of the LORD comes upon you, before the Day of the LORD’s anger comes upon you. / Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who carry out His justice. Seek righteousness; seek humility. Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.

Malachi 3:7
Yet from the days of your fathers, you have turned away from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Hosts. “But you ask, ‘How can we return?’

Matthew 3:2
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Matthew 4:17
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Luke 13:3-5
No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish. / Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam collapsed on them: Do you think that they were more sinful than all the others living in Jerusalem? / No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,

Acts 17:30-31
Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent. / For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”

Romans 2:4-5
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance? / But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.

2 Corinthians 6:2
For He says: “In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!


Treasury of Scripture

Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel: and because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel.

thus.

Amos 4:2,3
The 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…

Amos 2:14
Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:

Amos 9:1-4
I 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…

prepare.

Amos 5:4-15
For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live: …

Isaiah 47:3
Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.

Ezekiel 13:5
Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.

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Amos 4
1. He reproves Israel for oppression,
4. for idolatry,
6. and for their incorrigibleness.














Therefore
The word "therefore" serves as a pivotal transition, indicating that what follows is a direct consequence of what has been previously stated. In the context of Amos 4, God has enumerated the various judgments He has brought upon Israel due to their persistent disobedience and failure to return to Him. This word underscores the inevitability of divine action in response to human behavior, emphasizing the cause-and-effect relationship inherent in God's dealings with His people.

this is what I will do to you, O Israel
This phrase is a solemn declaration from God, highlighting His personal involvement and authority in the unfolding events. The use of "I will do" signifies God's active role in the judgment process, reinforcing His sovereignty. The direct address to "O Israel" personalizes the message, reminding the nation of their unique covenant relationship with God. Historically, Israel was chosen to be a light to the nations, yet their failure to uphold their end of the covenant necessitates divine intervention.

and because I will do this to you
The repetition of "I will do this to you" serves to emphasize the certainty and seriousness of the impending judgment. It reflects the unchanging nature of God's justice, which demands accountability. The phrase also serves as a reminder of the prophetic warnings that have been consistently ignored by the people. In the broader scriptural context, it echoes the principle that God disciplines those He loves, aiming to bring about repentance and restoration.

prepare to meet your God, O Israel!
This climactic exhortation is both a warning and an invitation. The word "prepare" suggests an urgent need for introspection and repentance. It calls the people to ready themselves for an encounter with the Almighty, who is both their judge and redeemer. The phrase "meet your God" implies an unavoidable confrontation with the divine, where the reality of God's holiness and justice will be fully revealed. Historically, this would resonate with the Israelites' understanding of meeting God as a profound and awe-inspiring event, reminiscent of their ancestors' experiences at Mount Sinai. The repetition of "O Israel" reinforces the personal and national significance of this call, urging the people to recognize their identity and responsibility before God.

(12) Thus will I do.--What is he about to do? It is left in awful uncertainty, but the doom is wrapt up in the boundless possibilities of the Divine judgment involved in the drawing very near of the Lord Himself, to execute what He has said and sworn by His Holiness in Amos 4:2-3. All that had previously been done in famine, drought, blighting pestilence, and earthquake, was not final, and had failed in its effect. The summons to meet God in some other unknown form than these is very solemn.

Verse 12. - Therefore. Because all previous judgments have been in vain, therefore will I send upon them something more terrible still. Thus. God says not how; he leaves the nature of the coming chastisement in mysterious uncertainty, that the very suspense may work fear and repentance. Because I will do this (pointing back to the mysterious "thus" above) unto thee; because I am ready to bring on thee still heavier punishment. Prepare to meet thy God; Septuagint, Ἐτοιμάζου τοῦ ἐπικαλεῖσθαι τὸν Θεόν σου, "Prepare to call upon thy God." Make ready to meet thy God in judgment, turning to him with changed heart, if perchance he may forgive thee and withdraw his heavy hand. Another explanation, derived from Symmachus and adopted by a Lapide, Schegg, and others, "Praeparare ut adverseris Deo tuo" - an ironical encouragement to them to withstand God - deprives the following verse of its suitability to the context. For the prophet would hardly invite them to this contest by expatiating upon God's almightiness.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Therefore,
לָכֵ֕ן (lā·ḵên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

that is what
כֹּ֥ה (kōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

I will do
אֶעֱשֶׂה־ (’e·‘ĕ·śeh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

to you,
לְּךָ֖ (lə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

O Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

and since
עֵ֚קֶב (‘ê·qeḇ)
Conjunction
Strong's 6118: A heel, the last of anything, result, compensation, on account of

I will do
אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־ (’e·‘ĕ·śeh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

this
זֹ֣את (zōṯ)
Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

to you,
לָּ֔ךְ (lāḵ)
Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew

prepare
הִכּ֥וֹן (hik·kō·wn)
Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3559: To be erect

to meet
לִקְרַאת־ (liq·raṯ-)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7125: Against he come, help, meet, seek, to, in the way

your God,
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

O Israel!
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


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OT Prophets: Amos 4:12 Therefore thus will I do to you (Amo. Am)
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