15 The words “will do this” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
16 Or “melts.” The verb probably depicts earthquakes and landslides. See v. 5b.
17 Heb “all of it.”
18 Heb “the Nile.” The word “River” is supplied in the translation for clarity.
19 Or “sinks back down.”
20 See Amos 8:8, which is very similar to this verse.
21 The reads “his steps.” If this is correct, then the reference may be to the steps leading up to the heavenly temple or the throne of God (cf. 1 Kgs 10:19–20). The prefixed ם (mem) may be dittographic (note the preceding word ends in mem). The translation assumes an emendation to עֲלִיָּתוֹ (’aliyyato, “his upper rooms”).
22 Traditionally, “vault” (so , , ). The precise meaning of this word in this context is unclear. Elsewhere it refers to objects grouped or held together. F. I. Andersen and D. N. Freedman (Amos [], ) suggest the foundational structure of a building is in view.
23 Verse 6a pictures the entire universe as a divine palace founded on the earth and extending into the heavens.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

The Lord God of hosts,

he who touches the earth and it melts,

and all who dwell in it mourn,

and all of it rises like the Nile,

and sinks again, like the Nile of Egypt;

who builds his upper chambers in the heavens

and founds his vault upon the earth;

who calls for the waters of the sea

and pours them out upon the surface of the earth—

the Lord is his name.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

The Lord, the Lord Almighty—

he touches the earth and it melts,

and all who live in it mourn;

the whole land rises like the Nile,

then sinks like the river of Egypt;

he builds his lofty palace in the heavens

and sets its foundation on the earth;

he calls for the waters of the sea

and pours them out over the face of the land—

the Lord is his name.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The Lord, the God of Armies—

he touches the earth;

it melts, and all who dwell in it mourn;

all of it rises like the Nile

and subsides like the Nile of Egypt.

He builds his upper chambers

in the heavens

and lays the foundation of his vault

on the earth.

He summons the water of the sea

and pours it out over the surface of the earth.

The Lord is his name.

NLTNew Living Translation

The Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,

touches the land and it melts,

and all its people mourn.

The ground rises like the Nile River at floodtime,

and then it sinks again.

The Lord’s home reaches up to the heavens,

while its foundation is on the earth.

He draws up water from the oceans

and pours it down as rain on the land.

The Lord is his name!

And thus will do the Lord Yahweh of hosts, who touches the earth and it melts, and all of those living in it mourn, and all of it rises like the Nile and it sinks down like the Nile of Egypt, who builds his upper chambers in the heavens and lays the foundation of his vault on the earth, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them on the surface of the earth—Yahweh is his name.

KJV 1900King James Version

And the Lord God of hosts is he that toucheth the land, and it shall melt,

And all that dwell therein shall mourn:

And it shall rise up wholly like a flood;

And shall be drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.

It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven,

And hath founded his troop in the earth;

He that calleth for the waters of the sea,

And poureth them out upon the face of the earth:

The Lord is his name.

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Amos 9:5–6

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