Amos’ Vision of Yahweh’s Fire
The words of Amos, who was among the asheepherders from bTekoa, which he beheld in visions concerning Israel in the days of cUzziah king of Judah, and in the days of dJeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the eearthquake. 2 And he said,
“aYahweh roars from Zion
And from Jerusalem He gives forth His voice;
And the shepherds’ bpasture grounds mourn,
And the ctop of Carmel dries up.”
3 Thus says Yahweh,
“For athree transgressions of bDamascus and for four
I will not turn back its punishment
Because they threshed Gilead with implements of sharp iron.
4 So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael,
And it will consume the citadels of aBen‑hadad.
5 I will also abreak the gate bar of Damascus
And cut off the inhabitant from the valley of Aven
And him who holds the scepter from Beth‑eden;
So the people of Aram will go into exile to bKir,”
Says Yahweh.
6 Thus says Yahweh,
“For three transgressions of aGaza and for four
I will not turn back its punishment
Because they took away into exile the whole community of exiles
To bdeliver it up to Edom.
7 So I will send fire upon the wall of Gaza,
And it will consume her citadels.
8 I will also cut off the inhabitant from aAshdod
And him who holds the scepter from bAshkelon;
I will even turn My hand against Ekron,
And the remnant of the cPhilistines will perish,”
Says Lord Yahweh.
9 Thus says Yahweh,
“For three transgressions of aTyre and for four
I will not turn back its punishment
Because they delivered up the whole community of exiles to Edom
And did not remember the covenant of bbrotherhood.
10 So I will asend fire upon the wall of Tyre,
And it will consume her citadels.”
11 Thus says Yahweh,
“For three transgressions of aEdom and for four
I will not turn back its punishment
Because he bpursued his brother with the sword
While he corrupted his compassion;
And his anger also ctore continually,
And he kept his wrath forever.
12 So I will send fire upon aTeman,
And it will consume the citadels of Bozrah.”
13 Thus says Yahweh,
“For three transgressions of the sons of aAmmon and for four
I will not turn back its punishment
Because they bripped open the pregnant women of Gilead
In order to cenlarge their borders.
14 So I will kindle a fire on the wall of aRabbah,
And it will consume her citadels
Amid a bloud shout on the day of battle
And a cstorm on the day of tempest.
15 And their aking will go into exile,
He and his princes together,”
Says Yahweh.
Thus says Yahweh,
“For three transgressions of aMoab and for four
I will not turn back its punishment
Because he bburned the bones of the king of Edom to lime.
2 So I will send fire upon Moab,
And it will consume the citadels of aKerioth;
And Moab will die amid great brumbling,
Amid a loud shout and the sound of a trumpet.
3 I will also cut off the ajudge from her midst
And kill all her bprinces with him,” says Yahweh.
Punishment of Judah and Israel
4 Thus says Yahweh,
“For three transgressions of aJudah and for four
I will not turn back its punishment
Because they brejected the law of Yahweh
And have not kept His statutes;
Their cfalsehood also has led them astray,
That which their dfathers walked after.
5 So I will asend fire upon Judah,
And it will consume the citadels of Jerusalem.”
6 Thus says Yahweh,
“For three transgressions of aIsrael and for four
I will not turn back its punishment
Because they bsell the righteous for money
And the needy for a pair of sandals.
7 These who pant after the very dust of the earth on the head of the apoor
Also bturn aside the way of the humble;
And a cman and his father go to the same young woman
In order to profane My holy name.
8 On garments ataken as pledges they stretch out beside bevery altar,
And in the house of their God they cdrink the wine of those who have been fined.
9 “Yet it was I who destroyed the aAmorite before them,
Though his bheight was like the height of cedars,
And he was strong as the oaks;
I even destroyed his cfruit above and his root below.
10 And it was I who abrought you up from the land of Egypt,
And I led you in the wilderness bforty years
That you might take possession of the land of the cAmorite.
11 Then I araised up some of your sons to be prophets
And some of your choice men to be bNazirites.
Is this not so, O sons of Israel?” declares Yahweh.
12 “But you made the Nazirites drink wine,
And you commanded the prophets saying, ‘You ashall not prophesy!’
13 Behold, I am aweighted down beneath you
As a wagon is weighted down when filled with sheaves.
14 aSo flight will perish from the swift,
And the strong will not instill his power with courage,
Nor will the bmighty man make his life escape.
15 He who agrasps the bow will not stand his ground,
The swift of foot will not escape,
Nor will he who rides the bhorse make his life escape.
16 Even the most courageous of heart among the mighty men will aflee naked in that day,” declares Yahweh.