1The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of King Uzziah of Judah and in the days of King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel, two years1.1 Or during two years before the earthquake.

Judgement on Israel's Neighbours

2And he said:

The LORD roars from Zion,

and utters his voice from Jerusalem;

the pastures of the shepherds wither,

and the top of Carmel dries up.

3Thus says the LORD:

For three transgressions of Damascus,

and for four, I will not revoke the punishment;1.3 Heb cause it to return

because they have threshed Gilead

with threshing-sledges of iron.

4So I will send a fire on the house of Hazael,

and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad.

5I will break the gate-bars of Damascus,

and cut off the inhabitants from the Valley of Aven,

and the one who holds the sceptre from Beth-eden;

and the people of Aram shall go into exile to Kir,

says the LORD.

6Thus says the LORD:

For three transgressions of Gaza,

and for four, I will not revoke the punishment;1.6 Heb cause it to return

because they carried into exile entire communities,

to hand them over to Edom.

7So I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza,

fire that shall devour its strongholds.

8I will cut off the inhabitants from Ashdod,

and the one who holds the sceptre from Ashkelon;

I will turn my hand against Ekron,

and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish,

says the Lord GOD.

9Thus says the LORD:

For three transgressions of Tyre,

and for four, I will not revoke the punishment;1.9 Heb cause it to return

because they delivered entire communities over to Edom,

and did not remember the covenant of kinship.

10So I will send a fire on the wall of Tyre,

fire that shall devour its strongholds.

11Thus says the LORD:

For three transgressions of Edom,

and for four, I will not revoke the punishment;1.11 Heb cause it to return

because he pursued his brother with the sword

and cast off all pity;

he maintained his anger perpetually,1.11 Syr Vg: Heb and his anger tore perpetually

and kept his wrath1.11 Gk Syr Vg: Heb and his wrath kept for ever.

12So I will send a fire on Teman,

and it shall devour the strongholds of Bozrah.

13Thus says the LORD:

For three transgressions of the Ammonites,

and for four, I will not revoke the punishment;1.13 Heb cause it to return

because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead

in order to enlarge their territory.

14So I will kindle a fire against the wall of Rabbah,

fire that shall devour its strongholds,

with shouting on the day of battle,

with a storm on the day of the whirlwind;

15then their king shall go into exile,

he and his officials together,

says the LORD.