Vision of the Locusts
1 Thus the LordGodshowed me: Behold, He formed locust swarms at the beginning of the late crop; indeeditwasthe late crop after the king’s mowings.
2 And so it was, when they had finished eating the grass of the land, that I said:
“O LordGod, forgive, I pray!
# Oh, that Jacob may stand,
For heissmall!”
3 SotheLordrelented concerning this.
“It shall not be,” said theLord.
Vision of the Fire
4 Thus the LordGodshowed me: Behold, the LordGodcalled for conflict by fire, and it consumed the great deep and devoured the territory.
5 Then I said:
“O LordGod, cease, I pray!
# Oh, that Jacob may stand,
For heissmall!”
6 SotheLordrelented concerning this.
“This also shall not be,” said the LordGod.
Vision of the Plumb Line
7 Thus He showed me: Behold, the Lord stood on a wallmadewith a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand.
8 And theLordsaid to me, “Amos, what do you see?”
And I said, “A plumb line.”
Then the Lord said:
# “Behold,I am setting a plumb line
In the midst of My people Israel;
# I will not pass by them anymore.
9 The high places of Isaac shall be desolate,
And the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste.
# I will rise with the sword against the house of Jeroboam.”
Amaziah’s Complaint
10 Then Amaziah thepriest ofBethel sent toJeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words.
11 For thus Amos has said:
‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword,
# And Israel shall surely be led awaycaptive
From their own land.’ ”
12 Then Amaziah said to Amos:
“Go, you seer!
Flee to the land of Judah.
There eat bread,
And there prophesy.
13 Butnever again prophesy at Bethel,
# For itisthe king’s sanctuary,
And itisthe royal residence.”
14 Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah:
“Iwasno prophet,
# NorwasIa son of a prophet,
# But Iwasasheepbreeder
And a tender of sycamore fruit.
15 Then theLordtook me as I followed the flock,
And theLordsaid to me,
# ‘Go,prophesy to My people Israel.’
16 Now therefore, hear the word of theLord:
You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel,
# Anddo not spout against the house of Isaac.’
17 “Thereforethus says theLord:
# ‘Your wife shall be a harlot in the city;
Your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword;
Your land shall be divided bysurveyline;
# You shall die in adefiled land;
And Israel shall surely be led away captive
From his own land.’ ”