דִּבְרֵ֣י עָמ֔וֹס אֲשֶׁר־הָיָ֥ה בַנֹּקְדִ֖ים מִתְּק֑וֹעַ אֲשֶׁר֩ חָזָ֨ה עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל בִּימֵ֣י ׀ עֻזִּיָּ֣ה מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֗ה וּבִימֵ֞י יָרׇבְעָ֤ם בֶּן־יוֹאָשׁ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שְׁנָתַ֖יִם לִפְנֵ֥י הָרָֽעַשׁ׃ The words of Amos, a sheep breeder from Tekoa, who prophesied concerning Israel in the reigns of Kings Uzziah of Judah and Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel, two years before the earthquake.^athe earthquake See Zech. 14.5.

וַיֹּאמַ֓ר ׀ יְהֹוָה֙ מִצִּיּ֣וֹן יִשְׁאָ֔ג וּמִירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם יִתֵּ֣ן קוֹל֑וֹ וְאָֽבְלוּ֙ נְא֣וֹת הָרֹעִ֔ים וְיָבֵ֖שׁ רֹ֥אשׁ הַכַּרְמֶֽל׃ {פ}
He proclaimed:
GOD roars from Zion,
Shouts aloud from Jerusalem;
And the pastures of the shepherds shall languish,
And the summit of Carmel shall wither.

כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י דַמֶּ֔שֶׂק וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־דּוּשָׁ֛ם בַּחֲרֻצ֥וֹת הַבַּרְזֶ֖ל אֶת־הַגִּלְעָֽד׃ Thus said GOD:
For three transgressions of Damascus,
For four, I will not revoke the decree:^bthe decree Of punishment. Heb. “it.”
Because they threshed Gilead
With threshing boards of iron.

וְשִׁלַּ֥חְתִּי אֵ֖שׁ בְּבֵ֣ית חֲזָאֵ֑ל וְאָכְלָ֖ה אַרְמְנ֥וֹת בֶּן־הֲדָֽד׃ I will send down fire^csend down fire Cf. Lam. 1.13. upon the palace of Hazael,
And it shall devour the fortresses of Ben-hadad.^dHazael…Ben-hadad Two of Aram’s kings; cf. 2 Kings 13.22–25.

וְשָֽׁבַרְתִּי֙ בְּרִ֣יחַ דַּמֶּ֔שֶׂק וְהִכְרַתִּ֤י יוֹשֵׁב֙ מִבִּקְעַת־אָ֔וֶן וְתוֹמֵ֥ךְ שֵׁ֖בֶט מִבֵּ֣ית עֶ֑דֶן וְגָל֧וּ עַם־אֲרָ֛ם קִ֖ירָה אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
I will break the gate bars of Damascus,
And wipe out the inhabitants from the Vale of Aven
And the sceptered ruler of Beth-eden;
And the people of Aram shall be exiled to Kir
—said GOD.

כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י עַזָּ֔ה וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־הַגְלוֹתָ֛ם גָּל֥וּת שְׁלֵמָ֖ה לְהַסְגִּ֥יר לֶאֱדֽוֹם׃ Thus said GOD:
For three transgressions of Gaza,
For four, I will not revoke the decree:^ethe decree See note at v. 3.
Because they exiled^fexiled I.e., cooperated in the annexation of Israelite territory; cf. Jer. 13.19 with note. an entire population,
Which they delivered to Edom.^gEdom Emendation yields “Aram”; cf. Isa. 9.11.

וְשִׁלַּ֥חְתִּי אֵ֖שׁ בְּחוֹמַ֣ת עַזָּ֑ה וְאָכְלָ֖ה אַרְמְנֹתֶֽיהָ׃ I will send down fire upon the wall of Gaza,
And it shall devour its fortresses;

וְהִכְרַתִּ֤י יוֹשֵׁב֙ מֵֽאַשְׁדּ֔וֹד וְתוֹמֵ֥ךְ שֵׁ֖בֶט מֵֽאַשְׁקְל֑וֹן וַהֲשִׁיב֨וֹתִי יָדִ֜י עַל־עֶקְר֗וֹן וְאָֽבְדוּ֙ שְׁאֵרִ֣ית פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ {פ}
And I will wipe out the inhabitants of Ashdod
And the sceptered ruler of Ashkelon;
And I will turn My hand against Ekron,
And the Philistines shall perish with no remnant
—said the Sovereign GOD.

כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵי־צֹ֔ר וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַֽל־הַסְגִּירָ֞ם גָּל֤וּת שְׁלֵמָה֙ לֶאֱד֔וֹם וְלֹ֥א זָכְר֖וּ בְּרִ֥ית אַחִֽים׃ Thus said GOD:
For three transgressions of Tyre,
For four, I will not revoke the decree:^hthe decree See note at v. 3.
Because they handed over
An entire population to Edom,ⁱEdom Emendation yields “Aram.”
Ignoring the covenant of brotherhood.^jcovenant of brotherhood I.e., the alliance between kings of similar social stature. Cf. 1 Kings 5.26; 9.12–13; and see note at 20.32.

וְשִׁלַּ֥חְתִּי אֵ֖שׁ בְּח֣וֹמַת צֹ֑ר וְאָכְלָ֖ה אַרְמְנוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ {פ}
I will send down fire upon the wall of Tyre,
And it shall devour its fortresses.

כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י אֱד֔וֹם וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־רׇדְפ֨וֹ בַחֶ֤רֶב אָחִיו֙ וְשִׁחֵ֣ת רַחֲמָ֔יו וַיִּטְרֹ֤ף לָעַד֙ אַפּ֔וֹ וְעֶבְרָת֖וֹ שְׁמָ֥רָהֿ נֶֽצַח׃ Thus said GOD:
For three transgressions of Edom,
For four, I will not revoke the decree:^kthe decree See note at v. 3.
Because he pursued his brother^lhis brother I.e., an army of the descendants of Israel; cf. Gen. 25.25–26; 35.10; 36.1. with the sword
And repressed all pity,^mrepressed all pity Or “destroyed his womenfolk”; cf. Judg. 5.30. Change of vocalization yields “destroyed his wombs”; cf. v. 13.
Because his anger raged unceasing
And his fury stormedⁿstormed Cf. Akkadian shamaru and Jer. 3.5. unchecked.

וְשִׁלַּ֥חְתִּי אֵ֖שׁ בְּתֵימָ֑ן וְאָכְלָ֖ה אַרְמְנ֥וֹת בׇּצְרָֽה׃ {פ}
I will send down fire upon Teman,
And it shall devour the fortresses of Bozrah.

כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־עַמּ֔וֹן וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־בִּקְעָם֙ הָר֣וֹת הַגִּלְעָ֔ד לְמַ֖עַן הַרְחִ֥יב אֶת־גְּבוּלָֽם׃ Thus said GOD:
For three transgressions of the Ammonites,
For four, I will not revoke the decree:^othe decree See note at v. 3.
Because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead
In order to enlarge their own territory.

וְהִצַּ֤תִּי אֵשׁ֙ בְּחוֹמַ֣ת רַבָּ֔ה וְאָכְלָ֖ה אַרְמְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ בִּתְרוּעָה֙ בְּי֣וֹם מִלְחָמָ֔ה בְּסַ֖עַר בְּי֥וֹם סוּפָֽה׃ I will set fire to the wall of Rabbah,
And it shall devour its fortresses,
Amid shouting on a day of battle,
On a day of violent tempest.

וְהָלַ֥ךְ מַלְכָּ֖ם בַּגּוֹלָ֑ה ה֧וּא וְשָׂרָ֛יו יַחְדָּ֖ו אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
Their king and his officers shall go
Into exile together
—said GOD.

כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י מוֹאָ֔ב וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־שׇׂרְפ֛וֹ עַצְמ֥וֹת מֶלֶךְ־אֱד֖וֹם לַשִּֽׂיד׃ Thus said GOD:
For three transgressions of Moab,
For four, I will not revoke the decree:^athe decree See note at 1.3.
Because he burned the bones
Of the king of Edom to lime.

וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי־אֵ֣שׁ בְּמוֹאָ֔ב וְאָכְלָ֖ה אַרְמְנ֣וֹת הַקְּרִיּ֑וֹת וּמֵ֤ת בְּשָׁאוֹן֙ מוֹאָ֔ב בִּתְרוּעָ֖ה בְּק֥וֹל שׁוֹפָֽר׃ I will send down fire upon Moab,
And it shall devour the fortresses of Kerioth.
And Moab shall die in tumult,
Amid shouting and the blare of horns;

וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י שׁוֹפֵ֖ט מִקִּרְבָּ֑הּ וְכׇל־שָׂרֶ֛יהָ אֶהֱר֥וֹג עִמּ֖וֹ אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
I will wipe out the ruler from within her
And slay all her officials along with him
—said GOD.

כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַֽל־מׇאֳסָ֞ם אֶת־תּוֹרַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֗ה וְחֻקָּיו֙ לֹ֣א שָׁמָ֔רוּ וַיַּתְעוּם֙ כִּזְבֵיהֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־הָלְכ֥וּ אֲבוֹתָ֖ם אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃ Thus said GOD:
For three transgressions of Judah,
For four, I will not revoke the decree:^bthe decree See note at 1.3.
Because they have spurned the Teaching of GOD
And have not observed divine laws;
They are beguiled by the delusions
After which their ancestors walked.

וְשִׁלַּ֥חְתִּי אֵ֖שׁ בִּֽיהוּדָ֑ה וְאָכְלָ֖ה אַרְמְנ֥וֹת יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ {פ}
I will send down fire upon Judah,
And it shall devour the fortresses of Jerusalem.

כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־מִכְרָ֤ם בַּכֶּ֙סֶף֙ צַדִּ֔יק וְאֶבְי֖וֹן בַּֽעֲב֥וּר נַעֲלָֽיִם׃ Thus said GOD:
For three transgressions of Israel,
For four, I will not revoke the decree:^cthe decree See note at 1.3.
Because they have sold for silver
Those whose cause was just,
And the needy for a pair of sandals.

הַשֹּׁאֲפִ֤ים עַל־עֲפַר־אֶ֙רֶץ֙ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ דַּלִּ֔ים וְדֶ֥רֶךְ עֲנָוִ֖ים יַטּ֑וּ וְאִ֣ישׁ וְאָבִ֗יו יֵֽלְכוּ֙ אֶל־הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔ה לְמַ֥עַן חַלֵּ֖ל אֶת־שֵׁ֥ם קׇדְשִֽׁי׃ [Ah,] you who trample the heads of the poor
Into the dust of the ground,
And make the humble walk a twisted course!^dwho trample the heads of the poor / Into the dust of the ground, / And make the humble walk a twisted course! Understanding shoʼaphim as equivalent to shaphim. Emendation yields: “Who crush on the ground / The heads of the poor, / And push off the road / The humble of the land”; cf. Job 24.4.
Father and son go to the same woman,
And thereby profane My holy name.

וְעַל־בְּגָדִ֤ים חֲבֻלִים֙ יַטּ֔וּ אֵ֖צֶל כׇּל־מִזְבֵּ֑חַ וְיֵ֤ין עֲנוּשִׁים֙ יִשְׁתּ֔וּ בֵּ֖ית אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃ They recline by every altar
On garments taken in pledge,
And drink in the House of their God
Wine bought with fines they imposed.

וְאָ֨נֹכִ֜י הִשְׁמַ֤דְתִּי אֶת־הָאֱמֹרִי֙ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר כְּגֹ֤בַהּ אֲרָזִים֙ גׇּבְה֔וֹ וְחָסֹ֥ן ה֖וּא כָּאַלּוֹנִ֑ים וָאַשְׁמִ֤יד פִּרְיוֹ֙ מִמַּ֔עַל וְשׇׁרָשָׁ֖יו מִתָּֽחַת׃ Yet I
Destroyed the Amorite before them,
Whose stature was like the cedar’s
And who was stout as the oak,
Destroying his boughs above
And his trunk below!

וְאָנֹכִ֛י הֶעֱלֵ֥יתִי אֶתְכֶ֖ם מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וָאוֹלֵ֨ךְ אֶתְכֶ֤ם בַּמִּדְבָּר֙ אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה לָרֶ֖שֶׁת אֶת־אֶ֥רֶץ הָאֱמֹרִֽי׃ And I
Brought you up from the land of Egypt
And led you through the wilderness forty years,
To possess the land of the Amorite!

וָאָקִ֤ים מִבְּנֵיכֶם֙ לִנְבִיאִ֔ים וּמִבַּחוּרֵיכֶ֖ם לִנְזִרִ֑ים הַאַ֥ף אֵֽין־זֹ֛את בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ And I raised up prophets from among your sons
And nazirites from among your young men.
Is that not so, O people of Israel?
—says GOD.

וַתַּשְׁק֥וּ אֶת־הַנְּזִרִ֖ים יָ֑יִן וְעַל־הַנְּבִיאִים֙ צִוִּיתֶ֣ם לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹ֖א תִּנָּבְאֽוּ׃ But you made the nazirites drink wine
And ordered the prophets not to prophesy.

הִנֵּ֛ה אָנֹכִ֥י מֵעִ֖יק תַּחְתֵּיכֶ֑ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר תָּעִיק֙ הָֽעֲגָלָ֔ה הַֽמְלֵאָ֥ה לָ֖הּ עָמִֽיר׃ ^eMeaning of verse uncertain; alternatively: “I will slow your movements / As a threshing sledge (cf. Isa. 28.27–28) is slowed / When clogged by cut grain.” Ah, I will slow your movements
As a wagon is slowed
When it is full of cut grain.

וְאָבַ֤ד מָנוֹס֙ מִקָּ֔ל וְחָזָ֖ק לֹא־יְאַמֵּ֣ץ כֹּח֑וֹ וְגִבּ֖וֹר לֹא־יְמַלֵּ֥ט נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃ Flight shall fail the swift,
The strong shall find no strength,
And the warrior shall not save his life.

וְתֹפֵ֤שׂ הַקֶּ֙שֶׁת֙ לֹ֣א יַעֲמֹ֔ד וְקַ֥ל בְּרַגְלָ֖יו לֹ֣א יְמַלֵּ֑ט וְרֹכֵ֣ב הַסּ֔וּס לֹ֥א יְמַלֵּ֖ט נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃ The archer shall not hold his ground,
And the fleet-footed shall not escape,
Nor the horseman save his life.

וְאַמִּ֥יץ לִבּ֖וֹ בַּגִּבּוֹרִ֑ים עָר֛וֹם יָנ֥וּס בַּיּוֹם־הַה֖וּא נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
Even the most stouthearted warrior
Shall run away unarmed^funarmed Lit. “naked.” that day
—declares GOD.

שִׁמְע֞וּ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֧ר יְהֹוָ֛ה עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל עַ֚ל כׇּל־הַמִּשְׁפָּחָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר הֶעֱלֵ֛יתִי מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם לֵאמֹֽר׃ Hear this word, O people of Israel,
That GOD has spoken concerning you,
Concerning the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt:

רַ֚ק אֶתְכֶ֣ם יָדַ֔עְתִּי מִכֹּ֖ל מִשְׁפְּח֣וֹת הָאֲדָמָ֑ה עַל־כֵּן֙ אֶפְקֹ֣ד עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת כׇּל־עֲוֺנֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ You alone have I singled out
Of all the families of the earth—
That is why I will call you to account
For all your iniquities.

הֲיֵלְכ֥וּ שְׁנַ֖יִם יַחְדָּ֑ו בִּלְתִּ֖י אִם־נוֹעָֽדוּ׃ Can two walk together
Without having met?

הֲיִשְׁאַ֤ג אַרְיֵה֙ בַּיַּ֔עַר וְטֶ֖רֶף אֵ֣ין ל֑וֹ הֲיִתֵּ֨ן כְּפִ֤יר קוֹלוֹ֙ מִמְּעֹ֣נָת֔וֹ בִּלְתִּ֖י אִם־לָכָֽד׃ Does a lion roar in the forest
When it has no prey?
Does a great beast let out a cry from its den
Without having made a capture?

הֲתִפֹּ֤ל צִפּוֹר֙ עַל־פַּ֣ח הָאָ֔רֶץ וּמוֹקֵ֖שׁ אֵ֣ין לָ֑הּ הֲיַֽעֲלֶה־פַּח֙ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה וְלָכ֖וֹד לֹ֥א יִלְכּֽוֹד׃ Does a bird drop on the ground—in a trap—
With no snare there?
Does a trap spring up from the ground
Unless it has caught something?

אִם־יִתָּקַ֤ע שׁוֹפָר֙ בְּעִ֔יר וְעָ֖ם לֹ֣א יֶחֱרָ֑דוּ אִם־תִּֽהְיֶ֤ה רָעָה֙ בְּעִ֔יר וַיהֹוָ֖ה לֹ֥א עָשָֽׂה׃ When a ram’s horn is sounded in a town,
Do the people not take alarm?
Can misfortune come to a town
If GOD has not caused it?

כִּ֣י לֹ֧א יַעֲשֶׂ֛ה אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִ֖ה דָּבָ֑ר כִּ֚י אִם־גָּלָ֣ה סוֹד֔וֹ אֶל־עֲבָדָ֖יו הַנְּבִיאִֽים׃ Indeed, my Sovereign GOD does nothing
Without having revealed the purpose
To God’s servants the prophets.

אַרְיֵ֥ה שָׁאָ֖ג מִ֣י לֹ֣א יִירָ֑א אֲדֹנָ֤י יֱהֹוִה֙ דִּבֶּ֔ר מִ֖י לֹ֥א יִנָּבֵֽא׃ A lion has roared,
Who can but fear?
My Sovereign GOD has spoken,
Who can but prophesy?

הַשְׁמִ֙יעוּ֙ עַל־אַרְמְנ֣וֹת בְּאַשְׁדּ֔וֹד וְעַֽל־אַרְמְנ֖וֹת בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְאִמְר֗וּ הֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ עַל־הָרֵ֣י שֹׁמְר֔וֹן וּרְא֞וּ מְהוּמֹ֤ת רַבּוֹת֙ בְּתוֹכָ֔הּ וַעֲשׁוּקִ֖ים בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃ Proclaim in the fortresses of Ashdod^aAshdod Septuagint reads “Assyria.”
And in the fortresses of the land of Egypt!
Say:
Gather on the hill^bhill Heb. plural; but cf. 4.1; 6.1. of Samaria
And witness the great outrages within her
And the oppression in her midst.

וְלֹא־יָדְע֥וּ עֲשׂוֹת־נְכֹחָ֖ה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה הָא֥וֹצְרִ֛ים חָמָ֥ס וָשֹׁ֖ד בְּאַרְמְנוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ {פ}
They are incapable of doing right
—declares GOD;
They store up lawlessness and rapine
In their fortresses.

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה צַ֖ר וּסְבִ֣יב הָאָ֑רֶץ וְהוֹרִ֤יד מִמֵּךְ֙ עֻזֵּ֔ךְ וְנָבֹ֖זּוּ אַרְמְנוֹתָֽיִךְ׃ Assuredly,
Thus said the Sovereign GOD:
An enemy, all about the land!
He shall strip you of your splendor,
And your fortresses shall be plundered.

כֹּה֮ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָה֒ כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ יַצִּ֨יל הָרֹעֶ֜ה מִפִּ֧י הָאֲרִ֛י שְׁתֵּ֥י כְרָעַ֖יִם א֣וֹ בְדַל־אֹ֑זֶן כֵּ֣ן יִנָּצְל֞וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל הַיֹּֽשְׁבִים֙ בְּשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן בִּפְאַ֥ת מִטָּ֖ה וּבִדְמֶ֥שֶׁק עָֽרֶשׂ׃ Thus said GOD:
As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s jaws
Two shank bones or the tip of an ear,^cAs a shepherd rescues … tip of an ear Cf. Exod. 22.9, 12.
So shall the Israelites escape
Who dwell in Samaria—
With the leg^dleg Meaning of Heb. uncertain. of a bed or the head^ehead Meaning of Heb. uncertain. of a couch.

שִׁמְע֥וּ וְהָעִ֖ידוּ בְּבֵ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֑ב נְאֻם־אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י הַצְּבָאֽוֹת׃ Hear [this], and warn the House of Jacob
—says the Sovereign GOD, the God of Hosts—

כִּ֗י בְּי֛וֹם פׇּקְדִ֥י פִשְׁעֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עָלָ֑יו וּפָֽקַדְתִּי֙ עַל־מִזְבְּח֣וֹת בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל וְנִגְדְּעוּ֙ קַרְנ֣וֹת הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וְנָפְל֖וּ לָאָֽרֶץ׃ That when I punish Israel for its transgressions,
I will wreak judgment on the altar^faltar Heb. plural, but cf. “altar” in next line. of Bethel,
And the horns of the altar shall be cut off
And shall fall to the ground.

וְהִכֵּיתִ֥י בֵית־הַחֹ֖רֶף עַל־בֵּ֣ית הַקָּ֑יִץ וְאָבְד֞וּ בָּתֵּ֣י הַשֵּׁ֗ן וְסָפ֛וּ בָּתִּ֥ים רַבִּ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}         I will wreck the winter palace
Together with the summer palace;
The ivory palaces shall be demolished,
And the great houses shall be destroyed
—declares GOD.

שִׁמְע֞וּ הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה פָּר֤וֹת הַבָּשָׁן֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּהַ֣ר שֹׁמְר֔וֹן הָעֹשְׁק֣וֹת דַּלִּ֔ים הָרֹצְצ֖וֹת אֶבְיוֹנִ֑ים הָאֹמְרֹ֥ת לַאֲדֹנֵיהֶ֖ם הָבִ֥יאָה וְנִשְׁתֶּֽה׃ Hear this word, you cows of Bashan
On the hill of Samaria—
Who defraud the poor,
Who rob the needy;
Who say to your^ayour Heb. “their.” husbands,
“Bring, and let’s carouse!”

נִשְׁבַּ֨ע אֲדֹנָ֤י יֱהֹוִה֙ בְּקׇדְשׁ֔וֹ כִּ֛י הִנֵּ֥ה יָמִ֖ים בָּאִ֣ים עֲלֵיכֶ֑ם וְנִשָּׂ֤א אֶתְכֶם֙ בְּצִנּ֔וֹת וְאַחֲרִֽיתְכֶ֖ן בְּסִיר֥וֹת דּוּגָֽה׃ My Sovereign GOD swears irrevocably:^birrevocably Lit. “by His holiness.”
Behold, days are coming upon you
When you will be carried off in baskets,
And, to the last one, in fish baskets,

וּפְרָצִ֥ים תֵּצֶ֖אנָה אִשָּׁ֣ה נֶגְדָּ֑הּ וְהִשְׁלַכְתֶּ֥נָה הַהַרְמ֖וֹנָה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ And taken out [of the city]—
Each one through a breach straight ahead—
And flung on the refuse heap^cWhen you will be carried off … on the refuse heap Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
—declares GOD.

בֹּ֤אוּ בֵֽית־אֵל֙ וּפִשְׁע֔וּ הַגִּלְגָּ֖ל הַרְבּ֣וּ לִפְשֹׁ֑עַ וְהָבִ֤יאוּ לַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ זִבְחֵיכֶ֔ם לִשְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִ֖ים מַעְשְׂרֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ Come to Bethel and transgress;
To Gilgal, and transgress even more:
Present your sacrifices the next morning
And your tithes on the third day;

וְקַטֵּ֤ר מֵֽחָמֵץ֙ תּוֹדָ֔ה וְקִרְא֥וּ נְדָב֖וֹת הַשְׁמִ֑יעוּ כִּ֣י כֵ֤ן אֲהַבְתֶּם֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ And burn a thank offering of leavened bread;^dthank offering of leavened bread Cf. Lev. 7.12–14; where, however, the bread is not to be burned.
And proclaim freewill offerings loudly.
For you love that sort of thing, O Israelites
—declares the Sovereign GOD.

וְגַם־אֲנִי֩ נָתַ֨תִּי לָכֶ֜ם נִקְי֤וֹן שִׁנַּ֙יִם֙ בְּכׇל־עָ֣רֵיכֶ֔ם וְחֹ֣סֶר לֶ֔חֶם בְּכֹ֖ל מְקוֹמֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם וְלֹא־שַׁבְתֶּ֥ם עָדַ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ I, on My part, have given you
Cleanness of teeth in all your towns,
And lack of food in all your settlements.
Yet you did not turn back to Me
—declares GOD.

וְגַ֣ם אָנֹכִי֩ מָנַ֨עְתִּי מִכֶּ֜ם אֶת־הַגֶּ֗שֶׁם בְּע֨וֹד שְׁלֹשָׁ֤ה חֳדָשִׁים֙ לַקָּצִ֔יר וְהִמְטַרְתִּי֙ עַל־עִ֣יר אֶחָ֔ת וְעַל־עִ֥יר אַחַ֖ת לֹ֣א אַמְטִ֑יר חֶלְקָ֤ה אַחַת֙ תִּמָּטֵ֔ר וְחֶלְקָ֛ה אֲשֶֽׁר־לֹֽא־תַמְטִ֥יר עָלֶ֖יהָ תִּיבָֽשׁ׃ I therefore withheld the rain from you
Three months before harvesttime:
I would make it rain on one town
And not on another;
One field would be rained upon
While another on which it did not rain
Would wither.

וְנָע֡וּ שְׁתַּ֩יִם֩ שָׁלֹ֨שׁ עָרִ֜ים אֶל־עִ֥יר אַחַ֛ת לִשְׁתּ֥וֹת מַ֖יִם וְלֹ֣א יִשְׂבָּ֑עוּ וְלֹֽא־שַׁבְתֶּ֥ם עָדַ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ So two or three towns would wander
To a single town to drink water,
But their thirst would not be slaked.
Yet you did not turn back to Me
—declares GOD.

הִכֵּ֣יתִי אֶתְכֶם֮ בַּשִּׁדָּפ֣וֹן וּבַיֵּרָקוֹן֒ הַרְבּ֨וֹת גַּנּוֹתֵיכֶ֧ם וְכַרְמֵיכֶ֛ם וּתְאֵנֵיכֶ֥ם וְזֵיתֵיכֶ֖ם יֹאכַ֣ל הַגָּזָ֑ם וְלֹא־שַׁבְתֶּ֥ם עָדַ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}         I scourged you with blight and mildew;
Repeatedly^eRepeatedly Meaning of Heb. uncertain. your gardens and vineyards,
Your fig trees and olive trees
Were devoured by locusts.
Yet you did not turn back to Me
—declares GOD.

שִׁלַּ֨חְתִּי בָכֶ֥ם דֶּ֙בֶר֙ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ מִצְרַ֔יִם הָרַ֤גְתִּי בַחֶ֙רֶב֙ בַּח֣וּרֵיכֶ֔ם עִ֖ם שְׁבִ֣י סוּסֵיכֶ֑ם וָאַעֲלֶ֞ה בְּאֹ֤שׁ מַֽחֲנֵיכֶם֙ וּֽבְאַפְּכֶ֔ם וְלֹֽא־שַׁבְתֶּ֥ם עָדַ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ I sent against you pestilence
In the manner of Egypt;^fpestilence / In the manner of Egypt Alluding to the plagues at the time of the Exodus.
I slew your young men with the sword,
Together with your captured horses,
And I made the stench of your armies
Rise in your very nostrils.
Yet you did not turn back to Me
—declares GOD.

הָפַ֣כְתִּי בָכֶ֗ם כְּמַהְפֵּכַ֤ת אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־סְדֹ֣ם וְאֶת־עֲמֹרָ֔ה וַתִּהְי֕וּ כְּא֖וּד מֻצָּ֣ל מִשְּׂרֵפָ֑ה וְלֹא־שַׁבְתֶּ֥ם עָדַ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ I have wrought destruction among you
As when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah;
You have become like a brand plucked from burning.
Yet you have not turned back to Me
—declares GOD.

לָכֵ֕ן כֹּ֥ה אֶעֱשֶׂה־לְּךָ֖ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל עֵ֚קֶב כִּי־זֹ֣את אֶעֱשֶׂה־לָּ֔ךְ הִכּ֥וֹן לִקְרַאת־אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Assuredly,
Because I am doing that to you,^gBecause I am doing that to you Emendation yields “Because you are acting thus toward Me.”
Even so will I act toward you, O Israel—
Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!

כִּ֡י הִנֵּה֩ יוֹצֵ֨ר הָרִ֜ים וּבֹרֵ֣א ר֗וּחַ וּמַגִּ֤יד לְאָדָם֙ מַה־שֵּׂח֔וֹ עֹשֵׂ֥ה שַׁ֙חַר֙ עֵיפָ֔ה וְדֹרֵ֖ךְ עַל־בָּ֣מֳתֵי אָ֑רֶץ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁמֽוֹ׃ {פ}
Behold the One who formed the mountains,
And created the wind,
And whose wishes^hwishes Meaning of Heb. uncertain. have been made known to mortals,
Who turns blacknessⁱblackness Cf. Joel 2.2. Emendation yields “darkness”; cf. 5.8. into daybreak,
And treads upon the high places of the earth,
Whose name is GOD—the God of Hosts.

שִׁמְע֞וּ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֜י נֹשֵׂ֧א עֲלֵיכֶ֛ם קִינָ֖ה בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Hear this word that I intone
As a dirge over you, O House of Israel:

נָֽפְלָה֙ לֹא־תוֹסִ֣יף ק֔וּם בְּתוּלַ֖ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל נִטְּשָׁ֥ה עַל־אַדְמָתָ֖הּ אֵ֥ין מְקִימָֽהּ׃ Fallen, not to rise again,
Is Maiden Israel;
Abandoned on her soil
With none to lift her up.

כִּ֣י כֹ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה הָעִ֛יר הַיֹּצֵ֥את אֶ֖לֶף תַּשְׁאִ֣יר מֵאָ֑ה וְהַיּוֹצֵ֥את מֵאָ֛ה תַּשְׁאִ֥יר עֲשָׂרָ֖ה לְבֵ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ For thus said the Sovereign GOD
About the House of Israel:
The town that marches out a thousand strong
Shall have a hundred left,
And the one that marches out a hundred strong
Shall have but ten left.

כִּ֣י כֹ֥ה אָמַ֛ר יְהֹוָ֖ה לְבֵ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל דִּרְשׁ֖וּנִי וִֽחְיֽוּ׃ Thus said GOD
To the House of Israel:
Seek Me, and you will live.

וְאַֽל־תִּדְרְשׁוּ֙ בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל וְהַגִּלְגָּל֙ לֹ֣א תָבֹ֔אוּ וּבְאֵ֥ר שֶׁ֖בַע לֹ֣א תַעֲבֹ֑רוּ כִּ֤י הַגִּלְגָּל֙ גָּלֹ֣ה יִגְלֶ֔ה וּבֵֽית־אֵ֖ל יִהְיֶ֥ה לְאָֽוֶן׃ Do not seek Bethel,
Nor go to Gilgal,
Nor cross over^across over Into Judah; cf. 1 Kings 19.3. to Beer-sheba;
For Gilgal shall go into exile,
And Bethel shall become a delusion.

דִּרְשׁ֥וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֖ה וִֽחְי֑וּ פֶּן־יִצְלַ֤ח כָּאֵשׁ֙ בֵּ֣ית יוֹסֵ֔ף וְאָכְלָ֥ה וְאֵין־מְכַבֶּ֖ה לְבֵֽית־אֵֽל׃ Seek GOD, and you will live.
Otherwise, [God] will rush like fire upon^bwill rush like fire Meaning of Heb. uncertain. the House of Joseph
And consume Bethel^cBethel Septuagint reads “the House of Israel.” with none to quench it.

הַהֹפְכִ֥ים לְלַעֲנָ֖ה מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה לָאָ֥רֶץ הִנִּֽיחוּ׃ [Ah,] you who turn justice into wormwood
And hurl righteousness to the ground!
[Seek GOD,]

עֹשֵׂ֨ה כִימָ֜ה וּכְסִ֗יל וְהֹפֵ֤ךְ לַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ צַלְמָ֔וֶת וְי֖וֹם לַ֣יְלָה הֶחְשִׁ֑יךְ הַקּוֹרֵ֣א לְמֵֽי־הַיָּ֗ם וַֽיִּשְׁפְּכֵ֛ם עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ יְהֹוָ֥ה שְׁמֽוֹ׃ Who made the Pleiades and Orion,
Who turns deep darkness into dawn
And darkens day into night,
Who summons the waters of the sea
And pours them out upon the earth—
Whose name is GOD !

הַמַּבְלִ֥יג שֹׁ֖ד עַל־עָ֑ז וְשֹׁ֖ד עַל־מִבְצָ֥ר יָבֽוֹא׃ ^dMeaning of verse uncertain. It is [God] who hurls destruction upon strongholds,
So that ruin comes upon fortresses!

שָׂנְא֥וּ בַשַּׁ֖עַר מוֹכִ֑יחַ וְדֹבֵ֥ר תָּמִ֖ים יְתָעֵֽבוּ׃ They hate the arbiter in the gate,
And detest the one whose plea is just.

לָ֠כֵ֠ן יַ֣עַן בּוֹשַׁסְכֶ֞ם עַל־דָּ֗ל וּמַשְׂאַת־בַּר֙ תִּקְח֣וּ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ בָּתֵּ֥י גָזִ֛ית בְּנִיתֶ֖ם וְלֹא־תֵ֣שְׁבוּ בָ֑ם כַּרְמֵי־חֶ֣מֶד נְטַעְתֶּ֔ם וְלֹ֥א תִשְׁתּ֖וּ אֶת־יֵינָֽם׃ Assuredly,
Because you impose a tax^eimpose a tax Meaning of Heb. uncertain. on the poor
And exact from them a levy of grain,
You have built houses of hewn stone,
But you shall not live in them;
You have planted delightful vineyards,
But shall not drink their wine.

כִּ֤י יָדַ֙עְתִּי֙ רַבִּ֣ים פִּשְׁעֵיכֶ֔ם וַעֲצֻמִ֖ים חַטֹּאתֵיכֶ֑ם צֹרְרֵ֤י צַדִּיק֙ לֹ֣קְחֵי כֹ֔פֶר וְאֶבְיוֹנִ֖ים בַּשַּׁ֥עַר הִטּֽוּ׃ For I have noted how many are your crimes,
And how countless your sins—
You enemies of the righteous,
You takers of bribes,
You who subvert in the gate
The cause of the needy!

לָכֵ֗ן הַמַּשְׂכִּ֛יל בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִ֖יא יִדֹּ֑ם כִּ֛י עֵ֥ת רָעָ֖ה הִֽיא׃ Assuredly,
At such a time the prudent keep silent,^fkeep silent Or “moan.”
For it is an evil time.

דִּרְשׁוּ־ט֥וֹב וְאַל־רָ֖ע לְמַ֣עַן תִּֽחְי֑וּ וִֽיהִי־כֵ֞ן יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־צְבָא֛וֹת אִתְּכֶ֖ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲמַרְתֶּֽם׃ Seek good and not evil,
That you may live,
And that the ETERNAL, the God of Hosts,
May truly be with you,
As you think.

שִׂנְאוּ־רָע֙ וְאֶ֣הֱבוּ ט֔וֹב וְהַצִּ֥יגוּ בַשַּׁ֖עַר מִשְׁפָּ֑ט אוּלַ֗י יֶחֱנַ֛ן יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁאֵרִ֥ית יוֹסֵֽף׃ {ס}         Hate evil and love good,
And establish justice in the gate;
Perhaps the ETERNAL, the God of Hosts,
Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

לָ֠כֵ֠ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֨ר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י צְבָאוֹת֙ אֲדֹנָ֔י בְּכׇל־רְחֹב֣וֹת מִסְפֵּ֔ד וּבְכׇל־חוּצ֖וֹת יֹאמְר֣וּ הוֹ־ה֑וֹ וְקָרְא֤וּ אִכָּר֙ אֶל־אֵ֔בֶל וּמִסְפֵּ֖ד אֶל־י֥וֹדְעֵי נֶֽהִי׃ Assuredly,
Thus said GOD,
The Sovereign—the God of Hosts:
In every square there shall be lamenting,
In every street cries of “Ah, woe!”
And the farm hand shall be
Called to mourn,
And those skilled in wailing
To lament;

וּבְכׇל־כְּרָמִ֖ים מִסְפֵּ֑ד כִּֽי־אֶעֱבֹ֥ר בְּקִרְבְּךָ֖ אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
For there shall be lamenting
In every vineyard, too,
When I pass through your midst
—said GOD.

ה֥וֹי הַמִּתְאַוִּ֖ים אֶת־י֣וֹם יְהֹוָ֑ה לָמָּה־זֶּ֥ה לָכֶ֛ם י֥וֹם יְהֹוָ֖ה הוּא־חֹ֥שֶׁךְ וְלֹא־אֽוֹר׃ Ah, you who wish
For the day of GOD !
Why should you want
The day of GOD ?
It shall be darkness, not light!

כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יָנ֥וּס אִישׁ֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י הָאֲרִ֔י וּפְגָע֖וֹ הַדֹּ֑ב וּבָ֣א הַבַּ֔יִת וְסָמַ֤ךְ יָדוֹ֙ עַל־הַקִּ֔יר וּנְשָׁכ֖וֹ הַנָּחָֽשׁ׃ —As if someone were to run from a lion
And get attacked by a bear;
Or, upon making it indoors,
Were to lean their hand on the wall
And get bitten by a snake!

הֲלֹא־חֹ֛שֶׁךְ י֥וֹם יְהֹוָ֖ה וְלֹא־א֑וֹר וְאָפֵ֖ל וְלֹא־נֹ֥גַֽהּ לֽוֹ׃ Surely the day of GOD shall be
Not light, but darkness,
Blackest night without a glimmer.

שָׂנֵ֥אתִי מָאַ֖סְתִּי חַגֵּיכֶ֑ם וְלֹ֥א אָרִ֖יחַ בְּעַצְּרֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ I loathe, I spurn your festivals,
I am not appeased by your solemn assemblies.

כִּ֣י אִם־תַּעֲלוּ־לִ֥י עֹל֛וֹת וּמִנְחֹתֵיכֶ֖ם לֹ֣א אֶרְצֶ֑ה וְשֶׁ֥לֶם מְרִיאֵיכֶ֖ם לֹ֥א אַבִּֽיט׃ If you offer Me burnt offerings—or your grain offerings—
I will not accept them;
I will pay no heed
To your gifts of fatlings.

הָסֵ֥ר מֵעָלַ֖י הֲמ֣וֹן שִׁרֶ֑יךָ וְזִמְרַ֥ת נְבָלֶ֖יךָ לֹ֥א אֶשְׁמָֽע׃ Spare Me the sound of your hymns,
And let Me not hear the music of your lutes.

וְיִגַּ֥ל כַּמַּ֖יִם מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה כְּנַ֥חַל אֵיתָֽן׃ But let justice well up like water,
Righteousness like an unfailing stream.

הַזְּבָחִ֨ים וּמִנְחָ֜ה הִֽגַּשְׁתֶּם־לִ֧י בַמִּדְבָּ֛ר אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Did you offer sacrifice and oblation to Me
Those forty years in the wilderness,
O House of Israel?

וּנְשָׂאתֶ֗ם אֵ֚ת סִכּ֣וּת מַלְכְּכֶ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת כִּיּ֣וּן צַלְמֵיכֶ֑ם כּוֹכַב֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם לָכֶֽם׃ ^gThis verse and the next would read well after 6.14. And you shall carry off your “king”—
Sikkuth and Kiyyun,^hSikkuth and Kiyyun Two Akkadian names applied to Saturn, here deliberately pointed with the vowels of Heb. shiqquṣ, “detestable thing.”
The images you have made for yourselves
Of your astral deity—

וְהִגְלֵיתִ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם מֵהָ֣לְאָה לְדַמָּ֑שֶׂק אָמַ֛ר יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁמֽוֹ׃ {פ}
As I drive you into exile beyond Damascus
—Said GOD, whose name is God of Hosts.ⁱwhose name is God of Hosts I.e., who is Sovereign of all the astral bodies.

ה֚וֹי הַשַּׁאֲנַנִּ֣ים בְּצִיּ֔וֹן וְהַבֹּטְחִ֖ים בְּהַ֣ר שֹׁמְר֑וֹן נְקֻבֵי֙ רֵאשִׁ֣ית הַגּוֹיִ֔ם וּבָ֥אוּ לָהֶ֖ם בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Ah, you who are at ease in Zion^aZion Emendation yields “Joseph,” cf. v. 6, and 5.6, 15, where “Joseph” denotes the northern kingdom.
And confident on the hill of Samaria,
You notables of the leading nation
On whom the House of Israel pin their hopes:^bpin their hopes Taking baʼ l- as synonymous with baʼ ʻad; see Isa. 45.24 and second note there.

עִבְר֤וּ כַֽלְנֵה֙ וּרְא֔וּ וּלְכ֥וּ מִשָּׁ֖ם חֲמַ֣ת רַבָּ֑ה וּרְד֣וּ גַת־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֗ים הֲטוֹבִים֙ מִן־הַמַּמְלָכ֣וֹת הָאֵ֔לֶּה אִם־רַ֥ב גְּבוּלָ֖ם מִגְּבֻלְכֶֽם׃ Cross over to Calneh and see,
Go from there to Great Hamath,
And go down to Gath of the Philistines:
Are [you] better than those kingdoms,
Or is their territory larger than yours?^cOr is their territory larger than yours? Emendation yields “Or is your territory larger than theirs?”

הַֽמְנַדִּ֖ים לְי֣וֹם רָ֑ע וַתַּגִּשׁ֖וּן שֶׁ֥בֶת חָמָֽס׃ ^dMeaning of verse uncertain. Yet you ward off [the thought of] a day of woe
And convene a session of lawlessness.

הַשֹּֽׁכְבִים֙ עַל־מִטּ֣וֹת שֵׁ֔ן וּסְרֻחִ֖ים עַל־עַרְשׂוֹתָ֑ם וְאֹכְלִ֤ים כָּרִים֙ מִצֹּ֔אן וַעֲגָלִ֖ים מִתּ֥וֹךְ מַרְבֵּֽק׃ They lie on ivory beds,
Lolling on their couches,
Feasting on lambs from the flock
And on calves from the stalls.

הַפֹּרְטִ֖ים עַל־פִּ֣י הַנָּ֑בֶל כְּדָוִ֕יד חָשְׁב֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם כְּלֵי־שִֽׁיר׃ They hum snatches of song
To the tune of the lute—
They account themselves musicians^eThey hum snatches … account themselves musicians Meaning of Heb. uncertain. like David.

הַשֹּׁתִ֤ים בְּמִזְרְקֵי֙ יַ֔יִן וְרֵאשִׁ֥ית שְׁמָנִ֖ים יִמְשָׁ֑חוּ וְלֹ֥א נֶחְל֖וּ עַל־שֵׁ֥בֶר יוֹסֵֽף׃ They drink [straight] from the wine bowls
And anoint themselves with the choicest oils—
But they are not concerned about the ruin of Joseph.

לָכֵ֛ן עַתָּ֥ה יִגְל֖וּ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ גֹּלִ֑ים וְסָ֖ר מִרְזַ֥ח סְרוּחִֽים׃ Assuredly, right soon
They shall head the column of exiles;
They shall loll no more at festive meals.

נִשְׁבַּע֩ אֲדֹנָ֨י יֱהֹוִ֜ה בְּנַפְשׁ֗וֹ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י צְבָא֔וֹת מְתָאֵ֤ב אָנֹכִי֙ אֶת־גְּא֣וֹן יַעֲקֹ֔ב וְאַרְמְנֹתָ֖יו שָׂנֵ֑אתִי וְהִסְגַּרְתִּ֖י עִ֥יר וּמְלֹאָֽהּ׃ The Sovereign GOD wholeheartedly swears:
I loathe the Pride of Jacob,^fPride of Jacob A poetic designation of the northern kingdom.
And I detest his fortresses.
I will declare forfeit city and inhabitants alike
—declares the ETERNAL, the God of Hosts.

וְהָיָ֗ה אִם־יִוָּ֨תְר֜וּ עֲשָׂרָ֧ה אֲנָשִׁ֛ים בְּבַ֥יִת אֶחָ֖ד וָמֵֽתוּ׃ If ten people are left in one house, they shall die.

וּנְשָׂא֞וֹ דּוֹד֣וֹ וּמְסָֽרְפ֗וֹ לְהוֹצִ֣יא עֲצָמִים֮ מִן־הַבַּיִת֒ וְאָמַ֞ר לַאֲשֶׁ֨ר בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֥י הַבַּ֛יִת הַע֥וֹד עִמָּ֖ךְ וְאָמַ֣ר אָ֑פֶס וְאָמַ֣ר הָ֔ס כִּ֛י לֹ֥א לְהַזְכִּ֖יר בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}         And if someone’s kinsman—who is to burn incense for one of the deceased^gwho is to burn incense for one of the deceased Or “along with an embalmer.” —comes to carry the remains out of the house,^hAnd if someone’s kinsman … out of a house Meaning of Heb. uncertain. and he calls to the one at the rear of the house, “Are there any alive besides you?” the answer will be, “No, none.” And he will say, “Hush!”—so that no one may utter GOD’s name.

כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ מְצַוֶּ֔ה וְהִכָּ֛ה הַבַּ֥יִת הַגָּד֖וֹל רְסִיסִ֑ים וְהַבַּ֥יִת הַקָּטֹ֖ן בְּקִעִֽים׃ For GOD will command,
And the great house shall be smashed to bits,
And the little house to splinters.

הַיְרֻצ֤וּן בַּסֶּ֙לַע֙ סוּסִ֔ים אִֽם־יַחֲר֖וֹשׁ בַּבְּקָרִ֑ים כִּֽי־הֲפַכְתֶּ֤ם לְרֹאשׁ֙ מִשְׁפָּ֔ט וּפְרִ֥י צְדָקָ֖ה לְלַעֲנָֽה׃ Can horses gallop on a rock?
Can it be plowed with oxen?ⁱCan it be plowed with oxen? Meaning of Heb. uncertain; emendation yields “Can one plow the sea with oxen?”
Yet you have turned justice into poison weed
And the fruit of righteousness to wormwood.

הַשְּׂמֵחִ֖ים לְלֹ֣א דָבָ֑ר הָאֹ֣מְרִ֔ים הֲל֣וֹא בְחׇזְקֵ֔נוּ לָקַ֥חְנוּ לָ֖נוּ קַרְנָֽיִם׃ [Ah,] those who are so happy about Lo-dabar,
Who exult, “By our might
We have captured Karnaim”!^jLo-dabar…Karnaim Two towns east of the Jordan recovered for Israel by Jeroboam II (see 2 Kings 14.25). For Lo-dabar, cf. 2 Sam. 9.4, 5; 17.27; for Karnaim, cf. Gen. 14.5.

כִּ֡י הִנְנִי֩ מֵקִ֨ים עֲלֵיכֶ֜ם בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֛ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י הַצְּבָא֖וֹת גּ֑וֹי וְלָחֲצ֥וּ אֶתְכֶ֛ם מִלְּב֥וֹא חֲמָ֖ת עַד־נַ֥חַל הָעֲרָבָֽה׃ {פ}
But I, O House of Israel,
Will raise up a nation against you
—declares the ETERNAL, the God of Hosts—
Who will harass you from Lebo-hamath
To the Wadi Arabah.

כֹּ֤ה הִרְאַ֙נִי֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה וְהִנֵּה֙ יוֹצֵ֣ר גֹּבַ֔י בִּתְחִלַּ֖ת עֲל֣וֹת הַלָּ֑קֶשׁ וְהִ֨נֵּה־לֶ֔קֶשׁ אַחַ֖ר גִּזֵּ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ This is what my Sovereign GOD showed me: [A plague of] locusts was created at the time when the late-sown crops were beginning to sprout—the late-sown crops after the king’s reaping.^athe late-sown crops after the king’s reaping Meaning of Heb. uncertain. The king’s reaping of fodder apparently occurred near the end of the rainy season, and whatever the locust destroyed after that could not be replaced for another year.

וְהָיָ֗ה אִם־כִּלָּה֙ לֶֽאֱכוֹל֙ אֶת־עֵ֣שֶׂב הָאָ֔רֶץ וָֽאֹמַ֗ר אֲדֹנָ֤י יֱהֹוִה֙ סְֽלַֽח־נָ֔א מִ֥י יָק֖וּם יַעֲקֹ֑ב כִּ֥י קָטֹ֖ן הֽוּא׃ When it had finished devouring the herbage in the land, I said, “O my Sovereign, ETERNAL One, pray forgive. How will Jacob survive? He is so small.”

נִחַ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה עַל־זֹ֑את לֹ֥א תִֽהְיֶ֖ה אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃ GOD relented concerning this. “It shall not come to pass,” said GOD.

כֹּ֤ה הִרְאַ֙נִי֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֥ה קֹרֵ֛א לָרִ֥ב בָּאֵ֖שׁ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה וַתֹּ֙אכַל֙ אֶת־תְּה֣וֹם רַבָּ֔ה וְאָכְלָ֖ה אֶת־הַחֵֽלֶק׃ This is what my Sovereign GOD showed me: Lo, my Sovereign GOD was summoning to contend by^bto contend by Emendation yields “flaming.” fire that consumed the Great Deep and was consuming the fields.

וָאֹמַ֗ר אֲדֹנָ֤י יֱהֹוִה֙ חֲדַל־נָ֔א מִ֥י יָק֖וּם יַעֲקֹ֑ב כִּ֥י קָטֹ֖ן הֽוּא׃ I said, “Oh, my Sovereign, ETERNAL One, refrain! How will Jacob survive? He is so small.”

נִחַ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה עַל־זֹ֑את גַּם־הִיא֙ לֹ֣א תִֽהְיֶ֔ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ {פ}
GOD relented concerning this. “That shall not come to pass, either,” said my Sovereign GOD.

כֹּ֣ה הִרְאַ֔נִי וְהִנֵּ֧ה אֲדֹנָ֛י נִצָּ֖ב עַל־חוֹמַ֣ת אֲנָ֑ךְ וּבְיָד֖וֹ אֲנָֽךְ׃ This is what I was shown: [God] was standing on a wall checked with a plumb line^cchecked with a plumb line Or “destined for the pickax”; meaning of Heb. uncertain. while holding a plumb line.^dplumb line Or “pickax”; meaning of Heb. uncertain.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י מָֽה־אַתָּ֤ה רֹאֶה֙ עָמ֔וֹס וָאֹמַ֖ר אֲנָ֑ךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲדֹנָ֗י הִנְנִ֨י שָׂ֤ם אֲנָךְ֙ בְּקֶ֙רֶב֙ עַמִּ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹא־אוֹסִ֥יף ע֖וֹד עֲב֥וֹר לֽוֹ׃ And GOD asked me, “What do you see, Amos?” “A plumb line,”^eplumb line See second note at v. 7. I replied. And my Sovereign declared, “I am going to apply a plumb line^fplumb line See previous note. to My people Israel; I will pardon them no more.

וְנָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙ בָּמ֣וֹת יִשְׂחָ֔ק וּמִקְדְּשֵׁ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יֶחֱרָ֑בוּ וְקַמְתִּ֛י עַל־בֵּ֥ית יָרׇבְעָ֖ם בֶּחָֽרֶב׃ {ס}         The shrines of Isaac shall be laid waste, and the sanctuaries of Israel reduced to ruins; and I will turn upon the House of Jeroboam with the sword.”

וַיִּשְׁלַ֗ח אֲמַצְיָה֙ כֹּהֵ֣ן בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל אֶל־יָרׇבְעָ֥ם מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר קָשַׁ֨ר עָלֶ֜יךָ עָמ֗וֹס בְּקֶ֙רֶב֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹא־תוּכַ֣ל הָאָ֔רֶץ לְהָכִ֖יל אֶת־כׇּל־דְּבָרָֽיו׃ Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent this message to King Jeroboam of Israel: “Amos is conspiring against you within the House of Israel. The country cannot endure the things he is saying.

כִּי־כֹה֙ אָמַ֣ר עָמ֔וֹס בַּחֶ֖רֶב יָמ֣וּת יָרׇבְעָ֑ם וְיִ֨שְׂרָאֵ֔ל גָּלֹ֥ה יִגְלֶ֖ה מֵעַ֥ל אַדְמָתֽוֹ׃ {ס}         For Amos has said, ‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall be exiled from its soil.’”

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲמַצְיָה֙ אֶל־עָמ֔וֹס חֹזֶ֕ה לֵ֥ךְ בְּרַח־לְךָ֖ אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ יְהוּדָ֑ה וֶאֱכׇל־שָׁ֣ם לֶ֔חֶם וְשָׁ֖ם תִּנָּבֵֽא׃ Amaziah also said to Amos, “Seer, off with you to the land of Judah! Earn your living^gEarn your living Lit. “eat bread.” there, and do your prophesying there.

וּבֵֽית־אֵ֔ל לֹא־תוֹסִ֥יף ע֖וֹד לְהִנָּבֵ֑א כִּ֤י מִקְדַּשׁ־מֶ֙לֶךְ֙ ה֔וּא וּבֵ֥ית מַמְלָכָ֖ה הֽוּא׃ But don’t ever prophesy again at Bethel; for it is a king’s sanctuary and a royal palace.”

וַיַּ֤עַן עָמוֹס֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־אֲמַצְיָ֔ה לֹא־נָבִ֣יא אָנֹ֔כִי וְלֹ֥א בֶן־נָבִ֖יא אָנֹ֑כִי כִּי־בוֹקֵ֥ר אָנֹ֖כִי וּבוֹלֵ֥ס שִׁקְמִֽים׃ Amos answered Amaziah: “I am not a prophet,^hnot a prophet By profession. and I am not a prophet’s disciple. I am a cattle breederⁱcattle breeder Meaning of Heb. uncertain; emendation yields “sheep breeder”; cf. the next verse and 1.1. and a tender of sycamore figs.

וַיִּקָּחֵ֣נִי יְהֹוָ֔ה מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י הַצֹּ֑אן וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלַי֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה לֵ֥ךְ הִנָּבֵ֖א אֶל־עַמִּ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ But GOD took me away from following the flock, and GOD said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’

וְעַתָּ֖ה שְׁמַ֣ע דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֑ה אַתָּ֣ה אֹמֵ֗ר לֹ֤א תִנָּבֵא֙ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְלֹ֥א תַטִּ֖יף עַל־בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂחָֽק׃ And so, hear the word of GOD. You say I must not prophesy about the House of Israel or preach about the House of Isaac;

לָכֵ֞ן כֹּה־אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה אִשְׁתְּךָ֞ בָּעִ֤יר תִּזְנֶה֙ וּבָנֶ֤יךָ וּבְנֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ בַּחֶ֣רֶב יִפֹּ֔לוּ וְאַדְמָתְךָ֖ בַּחֶ֣בֶל תְּחֻלָּ֑ק וְאַתָּ֗ה עַל־אֲדָמָ֤ה טְמֵאָה֙ תָּמ֔וּת וְיִ֨שְׂרָאֵ֔ל גָּלֹ֥ה יִגְלֶ֖ה מֵעַ֥ל אַדְמָתֽוֹ׃ {פ}
but this, I swear, is what GOD said: Your wife shall play the whore^jplay the whore Emendation yields “be abused”; cf. Lam. 5.11. in the town, your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided up with a measuring line. And you yourself shall die on impure soil;^kimpure soil Cf. Hos. 9.3 and note. for Israel shall be exiled from its soil.”

כֹּ֥ה הִרְאַ֖נִי אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה וְהִנֵּ֖ה כְּל֥וּב קָֽיִץ׃ This is what my Sovereign GOD showed me: There was a basket of figs.^afigs Heb. qayiṣ, lit. “summer fruit.”

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר מָֽה־אַתָּ֤ה רֹאֶה֙ עָמ֔וֹס וָאֹמַ֖ר כְּל֣וּב קָ֑יִץ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י בָּ֤א הַקֵּץ֙ אֶל־עַמִּ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹא־אוֹסִ֥יף ע֖וֹד עֲב֥וֹר לֽוֹ׃ I was asked, “What do you see, Amos?” “A basket of figs,” I replied. And GOD said to me: “The hour of doom^bhour of doom Heb. qeṣ. has come for My people Israel; I will not pardon them again.

וְהֵילִ֜ילוּ שִׁיר֤וֹת הֵיכָל֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה רַ֣ב הַפֶּ֔גֶר בְּכׇל־מָק֖וֹם הִשְׁלִ֥יךְ הָֽס׃ {פ}
And the singing women of the palace shall howl on that day—declares the Sovereign GOD:
So many corpses
Left lying everywhere!
Hush!”

שִׁמְעוּ־זֹ֕את הַשֹּׁאֲפִ֖ים אֶבְי֑וֹן וְלַשְׁבִּ֖ית (ענוי) [עֲנִיֵּי־]אָֽרֶץ׃ Listen to this, you who devour the needy, annihilating the poor of the land,^cwho devour the needy, annihilating the poor of the land Emendation yields “who on every new moon devour the needy, and on every sabbath the humble of the land”; cf. v. 5.

לֵאמֹ֗ר מָתַ֞י יַעֲבֹ֤ר הַחֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ וְנַשְׁבִּ֣ירָה שֶּׁ֔בֶר וְהַשַּׁבָּ֖ת וְנִפְתְּחָה־בָּ֑ר לְהַקְטִ֤ין אֵיפָה֙ וּלְהַגְדִּ֣יל שֶׁ֔קֶל וּלְעַוֵּ֖ת מֹאזְנֵ֥י מִרְמָֽה׃ saying, “If only the new moon were over, so that we could sell grain; the sabbath, so that we could offer wheat for sale, using an ephah that is too small, and a shekel that is too big,^dusing an ephah that is too small, and a shekel that is too big I.e., giving short measures of grain, but using oversize weights for the silver received in payment. tilting a dishonest scale,

לִקְנ֤וֹת בַּכֶּ֙סֶף֙ דַּלִּ֔ים וְאֶבְי֖וֹן בַּעֲב֣וּר נַעֲלָ֑יִם וּמַפַּ֥ל בַּ֖ר נַשְׁבִּֽיר׃ and selling grain refuse as grain! We will buy the poor for silver, the needy for a pair of sandals.”

נִשְׁבַּ֥ע יְהֹוָ֖ה בִּגְא֣וֹן יַעֲקֹ֑ב אִם־אֶשְׁכַּ֥ח לָנֶ֖צַח כׇּל־מַעֲשֵׂיהֶֽם׃ GOD swears by^eby Or “concerning”; cf. 6.8 with note. the Pride of Jacob: “I will never forget any of their doings.”

הַ֤עַל זֹאת֙ לֹא־תִרְגַּ֣ז הָאָ֔רֶץ וְאָבַ֖ל כׇּל־יוֹשֵׁ֣ב בָּ֑הּ וְעָלְתָ֤ה כָאֹר֙ כֻּלָּ֔הּ וְנִגְרְשָׁ֥ה (ונשקה) [וְנִשְׁקְעָ֖ה] כִּיא֥וֹר מִצְרָֽיִם׃ {פ}
Shall not the earth shake for this
And all that dwell on it mourn?
Shall it not all rise like the Nile
And surge and subside like the Nile of Egypt?

וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא נְאֻם֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה וְהֵבֵאתִ֥י הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ בַּֽצׇּהֳרָ֑יִם וְהַחֲשַׁכְתִּ֥י לָאָ֖רֶץ בְּי֥וֹם אֽוֹר׃ And in that day
—declares the Sovereign GOD —
I will make the sun set at noon,
I will darken the earth on a sunny day.

וְהָפַכְתִּ֨י חַגֵּיכֶ֜ם לְאֵ֗בֶל וְכׇל־שִֽׁירֵיכֶם֙ לְקִינָ֔ה וְהַעֲלֵיתִ֤י עַל־כׇּל־מׇתְנַ֙יִם֙ שָׂ֔ק וְעַל־כׇּל־רֹ֖אשׁ קׇרְחָ֑ה וְשַׂמְתִּ֙יהָ֙ כְּאֵ֣בֶל יָחִ֔יד וְאַחֲרִיתָ֖הּ כְּי֥וֹם מָֽר׃ {פ}
I will turn your festivals into mourning
And all your songs into dirges;
I will put sackcloth on all loins
And tonsures on every head.
I will make the earth^fthe earth Heb. “it”; cf. vv. 8 and 9d. mourn as for an only child,
All^gAll Lit. “the end.” of it as on a bitter day.

הִנֵּ֣ה ׀ יָמִ֣ים בָּאִ֗ים נְאֻם֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה וְהִשְׁלַחְתִּ֥י רָעָ֖ב בָּאָ֑רֶץ לֹא־רָעָ֤ב לַלֶּ֙חֶם֙ וְלֹֽא־צָמָ֣א לַמַּ֔יִם כִּ֣י אִם־לִשְׁמֹ֔עַ אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ A time is coming—declares the Sovereign GOD —when I will send a famine upon the land: not a hunger for bread or a thirst for water, but for hearing the words of GOD.

וְנָעוּ֙ מִיָּ֣ם עַד־יָ֔ם וּמִצָּפ֖וֹן וְעַד־מִזְרָ֑ח יְשׁ֥וֹטְט֛וּ לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ אֶת־דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א יִמְצָֽאוּ׃ People shall wander from sea to sea and from north to east to seek the word of GOD, but they shall not find it.

בַּיּ֨וֹם הַה֜וּא תִּ֠תְעַלַּ֠פְנָה הַבְּתוּלֹ֧ת הַיָּפ֛וֹת וְהַבַּחוּרִ֖ים בַּצָּמָֽא׃ In that day, the beautiful maidens and the young men shall faint with thirst—

הַנִּשְׁבָּעִים֙ בְּאַשְׁמַ֣ת שֹֽׁמְר֔וֹן וְאָמְר֗וּ חֵ֤י אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ דָּ֔ן וְחֵ֖י דֶּ֣רֶךְ בְּאֵֽר־שָׁ֑בַע וְנָפְל֖וּ וְלֹא־יָק֥וּמוּ עֽוֹד׃ {פ}
Those who swear by the guilt of Samaria,
Saying, “As your god lives, Dan,”^hAs your god lives, Dan See 1 Kings 12.28–29.
And “As the way to Beer-sheba lives”ⁱAs the way to Beer-sheba lives See 5.5 with note. —
They shall fall to rise no more.

רָאִ֨יתִי אֶת־אֲדֹנָ֜י נִצָּ֣ב עַֽל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֗חַ וַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ הַ֨ךְ הַכַּפְתּ֜וֹר וְיִרְעֲשׁ֣וּ הַסִּפִּ֗ים וּבְצַ֙עַם֙ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ כֻּלָּ֔ם וְאַחֲרִיתָ֖ם בַּחֶ֣רֶב אֶהֱרֹ֑ג לֹֽא־יָנ֤וּס לָהֶם֙ נָ֔ס וְלֹֽא־יִמָּלֵ֥ט לָהֶ֖ם פָּלִֽיט׃ I observed my Sovereign standing by the altar and saying: Strike the capitals so that the thresholds quake, and make an end of the first of them all.^aStrike the capitals … first of them all Meaning of Heb. uncertain. And I will slay the last of them with the sword; not one of them shall escape, and not one of them shall survive.

אִם־יַחְתְּר֣וּ בִשְׁא֔וֹל מִשָּׁ֖ם יָדִ֣י תִקָּחֵ֑ם וְאִֽם־יַעֲלוּ֙ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם מִשָּׁ֖ם אוֹרִידֵֽם׃ If they burrow down to Sheol,
From there My hand shall take them;
And if they ascend to heaven,
From there I will bring them down.

וְאִם־יֵחָֽבְאוּ֙ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ הַכַּרְמֶ֔ל מִשָּׁ֥ם אֲחַפֵּ֖שׂ וּלְקַחְתִּ֑ים וְאִם־יִסָּ֨תְר֜וּ מִנֶּ֤גֶד עֵינַי֙ בְּקַרְקַ֣ע הַיָּ֔ם מִשָּׁ֛ם אֲצַוֶּ֥ה אֶת־הַנָּחָ֖שׁ וּנְשָׁכָֽם׃ If they hide on the top of Carmel,
There I will search them out and seize them;
And if they conceal themselves from My sight
At the bottom of the sea,
There I will command
The serpent to bite them.

וְאִם־יֵלְכ֤וּ בַשְּׁבִי֙ לִפְנֵ֣י אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֔ם מִשָּׁ֛ם אֲצַוֶּ֥ה אֶת־הַחֶ֖רֶב וַהֲרָגָ֑תַם וְשַׂמְתִּ֨י עֵינִ֧י עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם לְרָעָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א לְטוֹבָֽה׃ And if they go into captivity
Before their enemies,
There I will command
The sword to slay them.
I will fix My eye on them for evil
And not for good.

וַאדֹנָ֨י יֱהֹוִ֜ה הַצְּבָא֗וֹת הַנּוֹגֵ֤עַ בָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ וַתָּמ֔וֹג וְאָבְל֖וּ כׇּל־י֣וֹשְׁבֵי בָ֑הּ וְעָלְתָ֤ה כַיְאֹר֙ כֻּלָּ֔הּ וְשָׁקְעָ֖ה כִּיאֹ֥ר מִצְרָֽיִם׃ It is the Sovereign GOD of Hosts—
At whose touch the earth trembles
And all who dwell on it mourn,
And all of it swells like the Nile
And subsides like the Nile of Egypt;

הַבּוֹנֶ֤ה בַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ מַעֲלוֹתָ֔ו וַאֲגֻדָּת֖וֹ עַל־אֶ֣רֶץ יְסָדָ֑הּ הַקֹּרֵ֣א לְמֵֽי־הַיָּ֗ם וַֽיִּשְׁפְּכֵ֛ם עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ יְהֹוָ֥ה שְׁמֽוֹ׃ {פ}
Who built the chambers in heaven
And founded the vault on the earth,
Who summons the waters of the sea
And pours them over the land—
Whose name is GOD.

הֲל֣וֹא כִבְנֵי֩ כֻשִׁיִּ֨ים אַתֶּ֥ם לִ֛י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה הֲל֣וֹא אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל הֶעֱלֵ֙יתִי֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם וּפְלִשְׁתִּיִּ֥ים מִכַּפְתּ֖וֹר וַאֲרָ֥ם מִקִּֽיר׃ To Me, O Israelites, you are
Just like the Cushites^bCushites People of Cush, the region south of Egypt.
—declares GOD.
True, I brought Israel up
From the land of Egypt,
But also the Philistines from Caphtor
And the Arameans from Kir.

הִנֵּ֞ה עֵינֵ֣י ׀ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֗ה בַּמַּמְלָכָה֙ הַֽחַטָּאָ֔ה וְהִשְׁמַדְתִּ֣י אֹתָ֔הּ מֵעַ֖ל פְּנֵ֣י הָאֲדָמָ֑ה אֶ֗פֶס כִּ֠י לֹ֣א הַשְׁמֵ֥יד אַשְׁמִ֛יד אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יַעֲקֹ֖ב נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ Behold, my Sovereign GOD is keeping an eye
On the sinful kingdom:
I will wipe it off
The face of the earth!
But, I will not wholly wipe out
The House of Jacob
—declares GOD.

כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֤ה אָֽנֹכִי֙ מְצַוֶּ֔ה וַהֲנִע֥וֹתִי בְכׇֽל־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם אֶת־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר יִנּ֙וֹעַ֙ בַּכְּבָרָ֔ה וְלֹֽא־יִפּ֥וֹל צְר֖וֹר אָֽרֶץ׃ For I will give the order
And shake the House of Israel—
Through all the nations—
As one shakes [sand] in a sieve,^csieve A coarse sieve used for cleansing grain of straw and stones, or sand of pebbles and shells.
And not a pebble falls to the ground.

בַּחֶ֣רֶב יָמ֔וּתוּ כֹּ֖ל חַטָּאֵ֣י עַמִּ֑י הָאֹמְרִ֗ים לֹֽא־תַגִּ֧ישׁ וְתַקְדִּ֛ים בַּעֲדֵ֖ינוּ הָרָעָֽה׃ All the sinners of My people
Shall perish by the sword,
Who boast,
“Never shall the evil
Overtake us or come near us.”

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא אָקִ֛ים אֶת־סֻכַּ֥ת דָּוִ֖יד הַנֹּפֶ֑לֶת וְגָדַרְתִּ֣י אֶת־פִּרְצֵיהֶ֗ן וַהֲרִֽסֹתָיו֙ אָקִ֔ים וּבְנִיתִ֖יהָ כִּימֵ֥י עוֹלָֽם׃ In that day,
I will set up again the fallen booth of David:
I will mend its breaches and set up its ruins anew.
I will build it firm as in the days of old,

לְמַ֨עַן יִֽירְשׁ֜וּ אֶת־שְׁאֵרִ֤ית אֱדוֹם֙ וְכׇל־הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־נִקְרָ֥א שְׁמִ֖י עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֖ה עֹ֥שֶׂה זֹּֽאת׃ {פ}
So that they shall possess the rest of Edom
And all the nations once attached to My name^dSo that they shall possess the rest of Edom / And all the nations once attached to My name I.e., the House of David shall reestablish its authority over the nations that were ruled by David.
—declares GOD who will bring this to pass.

הִנֵּ֨ה יָמִ֤ים בָּאִים֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְנִגַּ֤שׁ חוֹרֵשׁ֙ בַּקֹּצֵ֔ר וְדֹרֵ֥ךְ עֲנָבִ֖ים בְּמֹשֵׁ֣ךְ הַזָּ֑רַע וְהִטִּ֤יפוּ הֶֽהָרִים֙ עָסִ֔יס וְכׇל־הַגְּבָע֖וֹת תִּתְמוֹגַֽגְנָה׃ A time is coming
—declares GOD —
When the plower shall meet the reaper,^ethe plower shall meet the reaper Cf. Lev. 26.5.
And the treader of grapes
The one who holds the [bag of] seed;
When the mountains shall drip wine
And all the hills shall wave [with grain].

וְשַׁבְתִּי֮ אֶת־שְׁב֣וּת עַמִּ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וּבָנ֞וּ עָרִ֤ים נְשַׁמּוֹת֙ וְיָשָׁ֔בוּ וְנָטְע֣וּ כְרָמִ֔ים וְשָׁת֖וּ אֶת־יֵינָ֑ם וְעָשׂ֣וּ גַנּ֔וֹת וְאָכְל֖וּ אֶת־פְּרִיהֶֽם׃ I will restore My people Israel.
They shall rebuild ruined cities and inhabit them;
They shall plant vineyards and drink their wine;
They shall till gardens and eat their fruits.

וּנְטַעְתִּ֖ים עַל־אַדְמָתָ֑ם וְלֹ֨א יִנָּתְשׁ֜וּ ע֗וֹד מֵעַ֤ל אַדְמָתָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָתַ֣תִּי לָהֶ֔ם אָמַ֖ר יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ And I will plant them upon their soil,
Nevermore to be uprooted
From the soil I have given them
—said the ETERNAL your God.