NET Bible | New Living Translation |
1The sovereign LORD showed me this: I saw him making locusts just as the crops planted late were beginning to sprout. (The crops planted late sprout after the royal harvest.) | 1The Sovereign LORD showed me a vision. I saw him preparing to send a vast swarm of locusts over the land. This was after the king’s share had been harvested from the fields and as the main crop was coming up. |
2When they had completely consumed the earth's vegetation, I said, "Sovereign LORD, forgive Israel! How can Jacob survive? He is too weak!" | 2In my vision the locusts ate every green plant in sight. Then I said, “O Sovereign LORD, please forgive us or we will not survive, for Israel is so small.” |
3The LORD decided not to do this. "It will not happen," the LORD said. | 3So the LORD relented from this plan. “I will not do it,” he said. A Vision of Fire |
4The sovereign LORD showed me this: I saw the sovereign LORD summoning a shower of fire. It consumed the great deep and devoured the fields. | 4Then the Sovereign LORD showed me another vision. I saw him preparing to punish his people with a great fire. The fire had burned up the depths of the sea and was devouring the entire land. |
5I said, "Sovereign LORD, stop! How can Jacob survive? He is too weak!" | 5Then I said, “O Sovereign LORD, please stop or we will not survive, for Israel is so small.” |
6The LORD decided not to do this. The sovereign LORD said, "This will not happen either." | 6Then the LORD relented from this plan, too. “I will not do that either,” said the Sovereign LORD. A Vision of a Plumb Line |
7He showed me this: I saw the sovereign One standing by a tin wall holding tin in his hand. | 7Then he showed me another vision. I saw the Lord standing beside a wall that had been built using a plumb line. He was using a plumb line to see if it was still straight. |
8The LORD said to me, "What do you see, Amos?" I said, "Tin." The sovereign One then said, "Look, I am about to place tin among my people Israel. I will no longer overlook their sin. | 8And the LORD said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” I answered, “A plumb line.” And the Lord replied, “I will test my people with this plumb line. I will no longer ignore all their sins. |
9Isaac's centers of worship will become desolate; Israel's holy places will be in ruins. I will attack Jeroboam's dynasty with the sword." | 9The pagan shrines of your ancestors will be ruined, and the temples of Israel will be destroyed; I will bring the dynasty of King Jeroboam to a sudden end.” Amos and Amaziah |
10Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent this message to King Jeroboam of Israel: "Amos is conspiring against you in the very heart of the kingdom of Israel! The land cannot endure all his prophecies. | 10Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent a message to Jeroboam, king of Israel: “Amos is hatching a plot against you right here on your very doorstep! What he is saying is intolerable. |
11As a matter of fact, Amos is saying this: 'Jeroboam will die by the sword and Israel will certainly be carried into exile away from its land.'" | 11He is saying, ‘Jeroboam will soon be killed, and the people of Israel will be sent away into exile.’” |
12Amaziah then said to Amos, "Leave, you visionary! Run away to the land of Judah! Earn your living and prophesy there! | 12Then Amaziah sent orders to Amos: “Get out of here, you prophet! Go on back to the land of Judah, and earn your living by prophesying there! |
13Don't prophesy at Bethel any longer, for a royal temple and palace are here!" | 13Don’t bother us with your prophecies here in Bethel. This is the king’s sanctuary and the national place of worship!” |
14Amos replied to Amaziah, "I was not a prophet by profession. No, I was a herdsman who also took care of sycamore fig trees. | 14But Amos replied, “I’m not a professional prophet, and I was never trained to be one. I’m just a shepherd, and I take care of sycamore-fig trees. |
15Then the LORD took me from tending flocks and gave me this commission, 'Go! Prophesy to my people Israel!' | 15But the LORD called me away from my flock and told me, ‘Go and prophesy to my people in Israel.’ |
16So now listen to the LORD's message! You say, 'Don't prophesy against Israel! Don't preach against the family of Isaac!' | 16Now then, listen to this message from the LORD: “You say, ‘Don’t prophesy against Israel. Stop preaching against my people. ’ |
17"Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'Your wife will become a prostitute in the streets and your sons and daughters will die violently. Your land will be given to others and you will die in a foreign land. Israel will certainly be carried into exile away from its land.'" | 17But this is what the LORD says: ‘Your wife will become a prostitute in this city, and your sons and daughters will be killed. Your land will be divided up, and you yourself will die in a foreign land. And the people of Israel will certainly become captives in exile, far from their homeland.’” |
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