Amos 3:9–12

9 Proclaim to the fortresses of Ashdod

and to the fortresses of Egypt:

“Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria;

see the great unrest within her

and the oppression among her people.”

10 “They do not know how to do right,” declares the Lord,

“who store up in their fortresses

what they have plundered and looted.”

11 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“An enemy will overrun your land,

pull down your strongholds

and plunder your fortresses.”

12 This is what the Lord says:

“As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s mouth

only two leg bones or a piece of an ear,

so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued,

with only the head of a bed

and a piece of fabric from a couch.”

9 Publish in the palaces at Ashdod,

And in the palaces in the land of Egypt,

And say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria,

And behold the great tumults in the midst thereof,

And the oppressed in the midst thereof.

10 For they know not to do right, saith the Lord,

Who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.

11 Therefore thus saith the Lord God;

An adversary there shall be even round about the land;

And he shall bring down thy strength from thee,

And thy palaces shall be spoiled.

12 Thus saith the Lord;

As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear;

So shall the children of Israel be taken out

That dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.

9 Announce this to the leaders of Philistia

and to the great ones of Egypt:

“Take your seats now on the hills around Samaria,

and witness the chaos and oppression in Israel.”

10 “My people have forgotten how to do right,”

says the Lord.

“Their fortresses are filled with wealth

taken by theft and violence.

11 Therefore,” says the Sovereign Lord,

“an enemy is coming!

He will surround them and shatter their defenses.

Then he will plunder all their fortresses.”

12 This is what the Lord says:

“A shepherd who tries to rescue a sheep from a lion’s mouth

will recover only two legs or a piece of an ear.

So it will be for the Israelites in Samaria lying on luxurious beds,

and for the people of Damascus reclining on couches.

9 “Proclaim in the palaces at Ashdod,

And in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say:

‘Assemble on the mountains of Samaria;

See great tumults in her midst,

And the oppressed within her.

10 For they do not know to do right,’

Says the Lord,

‘Who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.’ ”

11 Therefore thus says the Lord God:

“An adversary shall be all around the land;

He shall sap your strength from you,

And your palaces shall be plundered.”

12 Thus says the Lord:

“As a shepherd takes from the mouth of a lion

Two legs or a piece of an ear,

So shall the children of Israel be taken out

Who dwell in Samaria—

In the corner of a bed and on the edge of a couch!

9 Announce this to the strong buildings of Ashdod

and to the strong buildings of Egypt:

“Come to the mountains of Samaria,

where you will see great confusion

and people hurting others.”

10 “The people don’t know how to do what is right,” says the Lord.

“Their strong buildings are filled with treasures they took by force from others.”

11 So this is what the Lord God says:

“An enemy will take over the land

and pull down your strongholds;

he will take the treasures out of your strong buildings.”

12 This is what the Lord says:

“A shepherd might save from a lion’s mouth

only two leg bones or a scrap of an ear of his sheep.

In the same way only a few Israelites in Samaria will be saved—

people who now sit on their beds

and on their couches.”

9 Publish ye in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold what great tumults are therein, and what oppressions in the midst thereof. 10 For they know not to do right, saith Jehovah, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces. 11 Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: An adversary there shall be, even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be plundered. 12 Thus saith Jehovah: As the shepherd rescueth out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be rescued that sit in Samaria in the corner of a couch, and on the silken cushions of a bed.

9 Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great uproar in the midst thereof, and the oppressions that are within her: 10 and they know not to do right, saith Jehovah, who store up violence and plunder in their palaces. 11 Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: An adversary! —even round about the land! And he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be pillaged. 12 Thus saith Jehovah: Like as the shepherd rescueth out of the jaw of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be rescued that sit in Samaria in the corner of a couch, and upon the damask of a bed.

9 Announce in the palaces of Ashdod and in the palaces of Egypt, 

“Gather together on the mountains of Samaria. 

See the widespread confusion and oppression in Samaria.” 

10 Those who collect profits in their palaces 

through violent and destructive acts 

don’t know how to do what is right, declares the Lord. 

11 This is what the Almighty Lord says: 

An enemy will surround your land, 

strip you of your defenses, 

and loot your palaces. 

12 This is what the Lord says: 

As a shepherd rescues two legs or a piece of an ear out of a lion’s mouth, 

so the Israelites living in Samaria will be rescued, 

⸤having only⸥ a corner of a bed or a piece of a couch.

9 Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod

and on the citadels in the land of Egypt:

Assemble on the mountains of Samaria

and see the great turmoil in the city

and the acts of oppression within it.

10 The people are incapable of doing right —

this is the Lord’s declaration—

those who store up violence and destruction

in their citadels.

11 Therefore, the Lord God says:

An enemy will surround the land;

he will destroy your strongholds

and plunder your citadels.

12 The Lord says:

As the shepherd snatches two legs

or a piece of an ear

from the lion’s mouth,

so the Israelites who live in Samaria

will be rescued

with only the corner of a bed

or the cushion of a couch.

9 Proclaim to the strongholds in Ashdod

and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt,

and say, “Assemble yourselves on Mount Samaria,

and see what great tumults are within it

and what oppressions are in its midst.”

10 They do not know how to do right, says the Lord,

those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.

11 Therefore thus says the Lord God:

An adversary shall surround the land

and strip you of your defense,

and your strongholds shall be plundered.

12 Thus says the Lord: As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who live in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a bed.

9 Proclaim to the citadel fortresses in Ashdod and the citadel fortresses in the land of Egypt and say: “Gather on the mountains of Samaria and see the great panic in her midst and the oppression in her midst!” 10 “They do not know how to do right,” declares Yahweh, “those who store up violence and destruction in their citadel fortresses.” 11 Therefore, thus says my Lord Yahweh, “A foe shall surround the land and bring down your strongholds, and your citadel fortresses shall be plundered.” 12 Thus says Yahweh, “Just as the shepherd rescues two legs or a piece of an ear from the mouth of the lion, so shall the people of Israel who dwell in Samaria, with the corner of a couch and the damask of a bed.”

9 Speak to the people in the forts of Ashdod and Egypt.

Tell them, “Gather together

on the mountains of Samaria.

Look at the great trouble in that city.

Its people are committing many crimes.”

10 “They do not know how to do what is right,”

announces the Lord.

“They pile up stolen goods in their forts.”

11 So the Lord and King says,

“Enemies will take over your land.

They will pull down your places of safety.

They will rob your forts.”

12 The Lord says,

“Suppose a shepherd saves only two leg bones

from a lion’s mouth.

Or he might save only a piece of an ear.

That is how the Israelites will be saved.

They sit in Samaria

on the edge of their beds.

They lie down in Damascus

on their couches.”

9 Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt and say, “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria and see the great tumults within her and the oppressions in her midst.

10 “But they do not know how to do what is right,” declares the Lord, “these who hoard up violence and devastation in their citadels.”

11 Therefore, thus says the Lord God,

“An enemy, even one surrounding the land,

Will pull down your strength from you

And your citadels will be looted.”

12 Thus says the Lord,

“Just as the shepherd snatches from the lion’s mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear,

So will the sons of Israel dwelling in Samaria be snatched away—

With the corner of a bed and the cover of a couch!