Amos 1

Crimes of the nations will be punished

₁I am Amos. And I raised sheep near the town of Tekoa when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.

Two years before the earthquake, the LORD gave me several messages about Israel, ₂and I said:

When the LORD roars

from Jerusalem,

pasture lands and Mount Carmel

dry up and turn brown.

Judgment on Syria

₃The LORD said:

I will punish Syria

for countless crimes,

and I won't change my mind.

They dragged logs with spikes

over the people of Gilead.

₄Now I will burn down the palaces

and fortresses of King Hazael

and of King Benhadad.

₅I will break through

the gates of Damascus.

I will destroy the people

of Wicked Valley

and the ruler of Beth-Eden.

Then the Syrians will be dragged

as prisoners to Kir.

I, the LORD, have spoken!

Judgment on Philistia

₆The LORD said:

I will punish Philistia

for countless crimes,

and I won't change my mind.

They dragged off my people

from town after town

to sell them as slaves

to the Edomites.

₇That's why I will burn down

the walls and fortresses

of the city of Gaza.

₈I will destroy the king of Ashdod

and the ruler of Ashkelon.

I will strike down Ekron,

and that will be the end

of the Philistines.

I, the LORD, have spoken!

Judgment on Phoenicia

₉The LORD said:

I will punish Phoenicia

for countless crimes,

and I won't change my mind.

They broke their treaty

and dragged off my people

from town after town

to sell them as slaves

to the Edomites.

₁₀That's why I will send flames

to burn down the city of Tyre

along with its fortresses.

Judgment on Edom

₁₁The LORD said:

I will punish Edom

for countless crimes,

and I won't change my mind.

They killed their own relatives

and were so terribly furious

that they showed no mercy.

₁₂Now I will send fire to wipe out

the fortresses of Teman

and Bozrah.

Judgment on Ammon

₁₃The LORD said:

I will punish Ammon

for countless crimes,

and I won't change my mind.

In Gilead they ripped open

pregnant women,

just to take the land.

₁₄Now I will send fire to destroy

the walls and fortresses

of Rabbah.

Enemies will shout and attack

like a whirlwind.

₁₅Ammon's king and leaders

will be dragged away.

I, the LORD, have spoken!