God Will Judge the Surrounding Nations

1:2 Amos7 said:

“The Lord comes roaring8 out of Zion;

from Jerusalem9 he comes bellowing!10

The shepherds’ pastures wilt;11

the summit of Carmel12 withers.”13

1:3 This is what the Lord says:

“Because Damascus has committed three crimes14—

make that four!15—I will not revoke my

decree of judgment.16

They ripped through Gilead like threshing sledges with iron teeth.17

1:4 So I will set Hazael’s house18 on fire;

fire19 will consume Ben Hadad’s20 fortresses.

1:5 I will break the bar21 on the gate of Damascus.

I will remove22 the ruler23 from Wicked Valley,24

the one who holds the royal scepter from Beth Eden.25

The people of Aram will be deported to Kir.”26

The Lord has spoken!

1:6 This is what the Lord says:

“Because Gaza27 has committed three crimes28—

make that four!29—I will not revoke my decree of judgment.30

They deported a whole community31 and sold them32 to Edom.

1:7 So I will set Gaza’s city wall33 on fire;

fire34 will consume her fortresses.

1:8 I will remove35 the ruler36 from Ashdod,37

the one who holds the royal scepter from Ashkelon.38

I will strike Ekron39 with my hand;40

the rest of the Philistines will also die.”41

The sovereign Lord has spoken!

1:9 This is what the Lord says:

“Because Tyre has committed three crimes42—

make that four!43—I will not revoke my decree of judgment.44

They sold45 a whole community46 to Edom;

they failed to observe47 a treaty of brotherhood.48

1:10 So I will set fire to Tyre’s city wall;49

fire50 will consume her fortresses.”

1:11 This is what the Lord says:

“Because Edom has committed three crimes51—

make that four!52—I will not revoke my decree of judgment.53

He chased his brother54 with a sword;

he wiped out his allies.55

In his anger he tore them apart without stopping to rest;56

in his fury he relentlessly attacked them.57

1:12 So I will set Teman58 on fire;

fire59 will consume Bozrah’s60 fortresses.”

1:13 This is what the Lord says:

“Because the Ammonites have committed three crimes61—

make that four!62—I will not revoke my decree of judgment.63

They ripped open Gilead’s pregnant women64

so they could expand their territory.

1:14 So I will set fire to Rabbah’s65 city wall;66

fire67 will consume her fortresses.

War cries will be heard on the day of battle;68

a strong gale will blow on the day of the windstorm.69

1:15 Ammon’s70 king will be deported;71

he and his officials72 will be carried off73 together.”

The Lord has spoken!

2:1 This is what the Lord says:

“Because Moab has committed three crimes1—

make that four!2—I will not revoke my decree of judgment.3

They burned the bones of Edom’s king into lime.4

2:2 So I will set Moab on fire,5

and it will consume Kerioth’s6 fortresses.

Moab will perish7 in the heat of battle8

amid war cries and the blaring9 of the ram’s horn.10

2:3 I will remove11 Moab’s leader;12

I will kill all Moab’s13 officials14 with him.”

The Lord has spoken!

2:4 This is what the Lord says:

“Because Judah has committed three covenant transgressions15—

make that four!16—I will not revoke my decree of judgment.17

They rejected the Lord’s law;18

they did not obey his commands.

Their false gods,19

to which their fathers were loyal,20

led them astray.

2:5 So I will set Judah on fire,

and it will consume Jerusalem’s fortresses.”21