A basket of fruit

1The LORD God showed me a basket of ripe fruit 2and asked, “Amos, what do you see?”

“A basket of ripe fruit,” I replied.

Then he said,

“This is the end8.2 end: In Hebrew “ripe fruit” and “end” sound alike.

for my people Israel.

I won't forgive them again.

3Instead of singing

in the temple,

they will cry and weep.

Dead bodies will be everywhere.

So keep silent!

I, the LORD, have spoken!”

Israel is doomed

The LORD said:

4You people crush those in need

and wipe out the poor.

5You say to yourselves,

“How much longer before the end

of the New Moon Festival?

When will the Sabbath8.5 New Moon Festival…Sabbath: Selling grain at these times was forbidden by the Law of Moses. be over?

Our wheat is ready,

and we want to sell it now.

We can't wait to cheat

and charge high prices

for the grain we sell.

We will use dishonest scales

6and mix dust in the grain.

Those who are needy and poor

don't have any money.

We will make them our slaves

for the price

of a pair of sandals.”

7I, the LORD, won't forget

any of this,

though you take great pride

in your ancestor Jacob.8.7 though…Jacob: Or “though I am the God that Jacob proudly worshipped”.

8Your country will tremble,

and you will mourn.

It will be like the River Nile

that rises and overflows,

then sinks back down.

9On that day, I, the LORD God,

will make the sun

go down at midday,

and I will turn daylight

into darkness.

10Your festivals and joyful singing

will turn into sorrow.

You will wear sackcloth8.10 sackcloth: A rough, dark-coloured cloth made from goat or camel hair and used to make grain sacks. It was worn in times of trouble or sorrow.

and shave your heads,

as you would at the death

of your only son.

It will be a horrible day.

11I, the LORD, also promise you

a terrible shortage,

but not of food and water.

You will hunger and thirst

to hear my message.

12You will search everywhere—

from north to south,

from east to west.

You will go all over the earth,

seeking a message

from me, the LORD.

But you won't find one.

13Your beautiful young women

and your young men

will faint from thirst.

14You made promises

in the name of Ashimah,

the goddess of Samaria.

And you made vows in my name

at the shrines

of Dan and Beersheba.8.14 You made…Beersheba: Or “You made promises to the goddess Ashimah at Samaria, and you made vows in the names of other gods at the shrines of Dan and Beersheba.”

But you will fall

and never get up.