18 Heb “those who.”
19 Heb “violence and destruction.” The expression “violence and destruction” stand metonymically for the goods the oppressors have accumulated by their unjust actions.
20 The reads “an enemy and around the land.” It is also possible to take the as an exclamation (“an enemy, and all about the land!”; see S. M. Paul, Amos [Hermeneia], ; ; cf. ). Most scholars and versions emend the text to יְסוֹבֵב (yésovev, Polel imperfect), “will encircle.”
21 Heb “He will bring down your power from you.” Some emend the text to read “Your power will be brought down from you.” The shift, however, from an active to a passive sense also appears at 3:14 (“I will destroy Bethel’s altars. The horns of the altar will be cut off.”) The pronouns (“your … you”) are feminine singular, indicating that the personified city of Samaria is addressed here. Samaria’s “power” here is her defenses and/or wealth.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

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

“those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.”

Therefore thus says the Lord God:

“An adversary shall surround the land

and bring down your defenses from you,

and your strongholds shall be plundered.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

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

“who store up in their fortresses

what they have plundered and looted.”

Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“An enemy will overrun your land,

pull down your strongholds

and plunder your fortresses.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The people are incapable of doing right—

this is the Lord’s declaration—

those who store up violence and destruction

in their citadels.

Therefore, the Lord God says:

An enemy will surround the land;

he will destroy your strongholds

and plunder your citadels.

NLTNew Living Translation

“My people have forgotten how to do right,”

says the Lord.

“Their fortresses are filled with wealth

taken by theft and violence.

Therefore,” says the Sovereign Lord,

“an enemy is coming!

He will surround them and shatter their defenses.

Then he will plunder all their fortresses.”

“They do not know how to do right,” declares Yahweh, “those who store up violence and destruction in their citadel fortresses.” Therefore, thus says my Lord Yahweh, “A foe shall surround the land and bring down your strongholds, and your citadel fortresses shall be plundered.”

KJV 1900King James Version

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

Who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.

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.

Public Domain

Amos 3:10–11

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Footnotes