AMAZIAH’S OPPOSITION

10 Amaziah the priestac of Bethel sent word to King Jeroboam of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against youad right here in the house of Israel. The land cannot endure all his words, 11 for Amos has said this: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will certainly go into exile from its homeland.’ ”ae

12 Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Go away, you seer!af Flee to the land of Judah. Earn your livingG and give your prophecies there, 13 but don’t ever prophesyag at Bethel again, for it is the king’s sanctuaryah and a royal temple.”

14 So Amos answered Amaziah, “I wasH not a prophet or the son of a prophet;I,ai rather, I wasH a herdsman,aj and I took care of sycamore figs. 15 But the Lord took me from following the flockak and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ ”al

16 Now hear the word of the Lord. You say:

Do not prophesyam against Israel;

do not preachan against the house of Isaac.

17 Therefore, this is what the Lord says:

Your wife will be a prostitute in the city,a

your sons and daughters will fall by the sword,b

and your land will be divided up

with a measuring line.

You yourself will die on paganA soil,c

and Israel will certainly go into exiled

from its homeland.