Introducing the Book of Amos, Prof Jason Radine writes, "The book opens with a claim that Amos prophesied during the overlapping reigns of King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam II of Israel.
This would have been in the 760s B.C.E. This was a high point of Israel’s power, but Amos predicts that Israel will be destroyed because of their ethical failings. This takes place years later when the kingdom of Israel succumbed to a series of Assyrian military campaigns in the 730s and 720s B.C.E., finally collapsing completely in 722–721 B.C.E. Assyria deported many of the Israelites, replacing them with people from elsewhere in the empire, and transformed Israel into the Assyrian province of Samerina.
...it seems more likely that the book of Amos is a retrospective explanation of the fall of the kingdom of Israel rather than a prediction of the fall in advance."
The intended audience of the book would have been the people of Judah in the aftermath of the Assyrian conquest of Israel, a combination of Israelite refugees and the native Judahite population. The book presents to the refugee component of the audience a Judahite perspective on their role in their own fall, as well as an indication of what is morally expected of them in Judah.[20] To the Judahite audience, the book declares that while wealthier Israel might have seemed favored by YHWH, Judah in fact is favored. At the same time, Judah remains vulnerable to suffering Israel’s fate if its people do not learn from Israel’s experience.
https://www.thetorah.com/article/the-book-of-amos-a-retrospect-on-the-fall-of-israel"Amos is one of the Twelve Minor Prophets, the last volume of the prophetic books (the second section of the Hebrew Bible). His career unfolded during the seismic eighth century BCE. At the time, the Israelites had already split into two kingdoms: the northern kingdom of Israel, consisting of ten of the twelve Israelite tribes, and the southern kingdom of the tribe of Judah, which also included the tribe of Benjamin. In Amos’s day, these two small kingdoms were contending with the meteoric rise of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, whose influence and dominance spread across the entire region. The threat of Neo-Assyrian conquest cast a long shadow over Israel’s and Judah’s affairs. Not long after Amos, the mighty empire destroyed the northern kingdom, sweeping the ten tribes into an exile from which they would never return. The southern kingdom was merely subjugated. It survived, but only in diminished stature.
Though Amos hailed from the south, his prophetic career unfolded in the north. The authorities there did not take kindly to this outsider’s proclamations of divine wrath, which must have been quite politically subversive. What leader enjoys hearing that on their watch their society has provoked God’s fury? In one famous confrontation, Amaziah, a northern priest, told Amos to go back where he came from. "
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/amos-channeling-the-wrath-of-gods-justice/
(א) דִּבְרֵ֣י עָמ֔וֹס אֲשֶׁר־הָיָ֥ה בַנֹּקְדִ֖ים מִתְּק֑וֹעַ אֲשֶׁר֩ חָזָ֨ה עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל בִּימֵ֣י ׀ עֻזִּיָּ֣ה מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֗ה וּבִימֵ֞י יָרׇבְעָ֤ם בֶּן־יוֹאָשׁ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שְׁנָתַ֖יִם לִפְנֵ֥י הָרָֽעַשׁ׃
(ב) וַיֹּאמַ֓ר ׀ ה' מִצִּיּ֣וֹן יִשְׁאָ֔ג וּמִירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם יִתֵּ֣ן קוֹל֑וֹ וְאָֽבְלוּ֙ נְא֣וֹת הָרֹעִ֔ים וְיָבֵ֖שׁ רֹ֥אשׁ הַכַּרְמֶֽל׃ {פ}
(ג) כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר ה' עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י דַמֶּ֔שֶׂק וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־דּוּשָׁ֛ם בַּחֲרֻצ֥וֹת הַבַּרְזֶ֖ל אֶת־הַגִּלְעָֽד׃
(ד) וְשִׁלַּ֥חְתִּי אֵ֖שׁ בְּבֵ֣ית חֲזָאֵ֑ל וְאָכְלָ֖ה אַרְמְנ֥וֹת בֶּן־הֲדָֽד׃
(ה) וְשָֽׁבַרְתִּי֙ בְּרִ֣יחַ דַּמֶּ֔שֶׂק וְהִכְרַתִּ֤י יוֹשֵׁב֙ מִבִּקְעַת־אָ֔וֶן וְתוֹמֵ֥ךְ שֵׁ֖בֶט מִבֵּ֣ית עֶ֑דֶן וְגָל֧וּ עַם־אֲרָ֛ם קִ֖ירָה אָמַ֥ר ה'׃ {פ}
(ו) כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר ה' עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י עַזָּ֔ה וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־הַגְלוֹתָ֛ם גָּל֥וּת שְׁלֵמָ֖ה לְהַסְגִּ֥יר לֶאֱדֽוֹם׃
(ז) וְשִׁלַּ֥חְתִּי אֵ֖שׁ בְּחוֹמַ֣ת עַזָּ֑ה וְאָכְלָ֖ה אַרְמְנֹתֶֽיהָ׃
(ח) וְהִכְרַתִּ֤י יוֹשֵׁב֙ מֵֽאַשְׁדּ֔וֹד וְתוֹמֵ֥ךְ שֵׁ֖בֶט מֵֽאַשְׁקְל֑וֹן וַהֲשִׁיב֨וֹתִי יָדִ֜י עַל־עֶקְר֗וֹן וְאָֽבְדוּ֙ שְׁאֵרִ֣ית פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים אָמַ֖ר אדושם ה'׃ {פ}
(ט) כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר ה' עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵי־צֹ֔ר וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַֽל־הַסְגִּירָ֞ם גָּל֤וּת שְׁלֵמָה֙ לֶאֱד֔וֹם וְלֹ֥א זָכְר֖וּ בְּרִ֥ית אַחִֽים׃
(י) וְשִׁלַּ֥חְתִּי אֵ֖שׁ בְּח֣וֹמַת צֹ֑ר וְאָכְלָ֖ה אַרְמְנוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ {פ}
(יא) כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר ה' עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י אֱד֔וֹם וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־רׇדְפ֨וֹ בַחֶ֤רֶב אָחִיו֙ וְשִׁחֵ֣ת רַחֲמָ֔יו וַיִּטְרֹ֤ף לָעַד֙ אַפּ֔וֹ וְעֶבְרָת֖וֹ שְׁמָ֥רָהֿ נֶֽצַח׃
(יב) וְשִׁלַּ֥חְתִּי אֵ֖שׁ בְּתֵימָ֑ן וְאָכְלָ֖ה אַרְמְנ֥וֹת בׇּצְרָֽה׃ {פ}
(יג) כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר ה' עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־עַמּ֔וֹן וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־בִּקְעָם֙ הָר֣וֹת הַגִּלְעָ֔ד לְמַ֖עַן הַרְחִ֥יב אֶת־גְּבוּלָֽם׃
(יד) וְהִצַּ֤תִּי אֵשׁ֙ בְּחוֹמַ֣ת רַבָּ֔ה וְאָכְלָ֖ה אַרְמְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ בִּתְרוּעָה֙ בְּי֣וֹם מִלְחָמָ֔ה בְּסַ֖עַר בְּי֥וֹם סוּפָֽה׃
(טו) וְהָלַ֥ךְ מַלְכָּ֖ם בַּגּוֹלָ֑ה ה֧וּא וְשָׂרָ֛יו יַחְדָּ֖ו אָמַ֥ר ה'׃ {פ}
(1) 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.
(2) 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. (3) Thus said GOD:
For three transgressions of Damascus,
For four, I will not revoke the decree:
Because they threshed Gilead
With threshing boards of iron.
(4) I will send down fire upon the palace of Hazael, And it shall devour the fortresses of Ben-hadad.
(5) 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.
(6) Thus said GOD:
For three transgressions of Gaza,
For four, I will not revoke the decree:
Because they exiled (exiled I.e., cooperated in the annexation of Israelite territory) an entire population, Which they delivered to Edom
(7) I will send down fire upon the wall of Gaza, And it shall devour its fortresses;
(8) 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.
(9) Thus said GOD:
For three transgressions of Tyre,
For four, I will not revoke the decree:
Because they handed over
An entire population to Edom,
Ignoring the covenant of brotherhood.
(10) I will send down fire upon the wall of Tyre, And it shall devour its fortresses.
(11) Thus said GOD:
For three transgressions of Edom,
For four, I will not revoke the decree:
Because he pursued his brother with the sword, And repressed all pity,
Because his anger raged unceasing
And his fury stormed unchecked.
(12) I will send down fire upon Teman,
And it shall devour the fortresses of Bozrah.
(13) Thus said GOD: For three transgressions of the Ammonites, For four, I will not revoke the decree: Because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead, In order to enlarge their own territory.
(14) 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.
(15) Their king and his officers shall go
Into exile together—said GOD.
(א) כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר ה' עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י מוֹאָ֔ב וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־שׇׂרְפ֛וֹ עַצְמ֥וֹת מֶלֶךְ־אֱד֖וֹם לַשִּֽׂיד׃
(ב) וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי־אֵ֣שׁ בְּמוֹאָ֔ב וְאָכְלָ֖ה אַרְמְנ֣וֹת הַקְּרִיּ֑וֹת וּמֵ֤ת בְּשָׁאוֹן֙ מוֹאָ֔ב בִּתְרוּעָ֖ה בְּק֥וֹל שׁוֹפָֽר׃
(ג) וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י שׁוֹפֵ֖ט מִקִּרְבָּ֑הּ וְכׇל־שָׂרֶ֛יהָ אֶהֱר֥וֹג עִמּ֖וֹ אָמַ֥ר ה'׃ {פ}
(ד) כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר ה' עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַֽל־מׇאֳסָ֞ם אֶת־תּוֹרַ֣ת ה' וְחֻקָּיו֙ לֹ֣א שָׁמָ֔רוּ וַיַּתְעוּם֙ כִּזְבֵיהֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־הָלְכ֥וּ אֲבוֹתָ֖ם אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃
(ה) וְשִׁלַּ֥חְתִּי אֵ֖שׁ בִּֽיהוּדָ֑ה וְאָכְלָ֖ה אַרְמְנ֥וֹת יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ {פ}
(ו) כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר ה' עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־מִכְרָ֤ם בַּכֶּ֙סֶף֙ צַדִּ֔יק וְאֶבְי֖וֹן בַּֽעֲב֥וּר נַעֲלָֽיִם׃
(ז) הַשֹּׁאֲפִ֤ים עַל־עֲפַר־אֶ֙רֶץ֙ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ דַּלִּ֔ים וְדֶ֥רֶךְ עֲנָוִ֖ים יַטּ֑וּ וְאִ֣ישׁ וְאָבִ֗יו יֵֽלְכוּ֙ אֶל־הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔ה לְמַ֥עַן חַלֵּ֖ל אֶת־שֵׁ֥ם קׇדְשִֽׁי׃
(ח) וְעַל־בְּגָדִ֤ים חֲבֻלִים֙ יַטּ֔וּ אֵ֖צֶל כׇּל־מִזְבֵּ֑חַ וְיֵ֤ין עֲנוּשִׁים֙ יִשְׁתּ֔וּ בֵּ֖ית אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃
(ט) וְאָ֨נֹכִ֜י הִשְׁמַ֤דְתִּי אֶת־הָאֱמֹרִי֙ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר כְּגֹ֤בַהּ אֲרָזִים֙ גׇּבְה֔וֹ וְחָסֹ֥ן ה֖וּא כָּאַלּוֹנִ֑ים וָאַשְׁמִ֤יד פִּרְיוֹ֙ מִמַּ֔עַל וְשׇׁרָשָׁ֖יו מִתָּֽחַת׃
(י) וְאָנֹכִ֛י הֶעֱלֵ֥יתִי אֶתְכֶ֖ם מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וָאוֹלֵ֨ךְ אֶתְכֶ֤ם בַּמִּדְבָּר֙ אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה לָרֶ֖שֶׁת אֶת־אֶ֥רֶץ הָאֱמֹרִֽי׃
(יא) וָאָקִ֤ים מִבְּנֵיכֶם֙ לִנְבִיאִ֔ים וּמִבַּחוּרֵיכֶ֖ם לִנְזִרִ֑ים הַאַ֥ף אֵֽין־זֹ֛את בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נְאֻם־ה'׃
(יב) וַתַּשְׁק֥וּ אֶת־הַנְּזִרִ֖ים יָ֑יִן וְעַל־הַנְּבִיאִים֙ צִוִּיתֶ֣ם לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹ֖א תִּנָּבְאֽוּ׃
(יג) הִנֵּ֛ה אָנֹכִ֥י מֵעִ֖יק תַּחְתֵּיכֶ֑ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר תָּעִיק֙ הָֽעֲגָלָ֔ה הַֽמְלֵאָ֥ה לָ֖הּ עָמִֽיר׃
(יד) וְאָבַ֤ד מָנוֹס֙ מִקָּ֔ל וְחָזָ֖ק לֹא־יְאַמֵּ֣ץ כֹּח֑וֹ וְגִבּ֖וֹר לֹא־יְמַלֵּ֥ט נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃
(טו) וְתֹפֵ֤שׂ הַקֶּ֙שֶׁת֙ לֹ֣א יַעֲמֹ֔ד וְקַ֥ל בְּרַגְלָ֖יו לֹ֣א יְמַלֵּ֑ט וְרֹכֵ֣ב הַסּ֔וּס לֹ֥א יְמַלֵּ֖ט נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃
(טז) וְאַמִּ֥יץ לִבּ֖וֹ בַּגִּבּוֹרִ֑ים עָר֛וֹם יָנ֥וּס בַּיּוֹם־הַה֖וּא נְאֻם־ה'׃ {פ}
(1) Thus said GOD:
For three transgressions of Moab,
For four, I will not revoke the decree:
Because he burned the bones
Of the king of Edom to lime.
(2) 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;
(3) I will wipe out the ruler from within her
And slay all her officials along with him
—said GOD. (4) Thus said GOD:
For three transgressions of Judah,
For four, I will not revoke the decree:
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.
(5) I will send down fire upon Judah,
And it shall devour the fortresses of Jerusalem. (6) Thus said GOD:
For three transgressions of Israel,
For four, I will not revoke the decree:
Because they have sold for silver
Those whose cause was just,
And the needy for a pair of sandals.
(7) [Ah,] you who trample the heads of the poor; Into the dust of the ground,
And make the humble walk a twisted course!
Father and son go to the same woman,
And thereby profane My holy name.
(8) They recline by every altar
On garments taken in pledge,
And drink in the House of their God
Wine bought with fines they imposed.
(9) 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!
(10) 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!
(11) 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.
(12) But you made the nazirites drink wine
And ordered the prophets not to prophesy.
(13) Ah, I will slow your movements
As a wagon is slowed
When it is full of cut grain.
(14) Flight shall fail the swift,
The strong shall find no strength,
And the warrior shall not save his life.
(15) The archer shall not hold his ground,
And the fleet-footed shall not escape,
Nor the horseman save his life.
(16) Even the most stouthearted warrior
Shall run away unarmed that day
—declares GOD.
(א) שִׁמְע֞וּ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֧ר ה' עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל עַ֚ל כׇּל־הַמִּשְׁפָּחָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר הֶעֱלֵ֛יתִי מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם לֵאמֹֽר׃
(ב) רַ֚ק אֶתְכֶ֣ם יָדַ֔עְתִּי מִכֹּ֖ל מִשְׁפְּח֣וֹת הָאֲדָמָ֑ה עַל־כֵּן֙ אֶפְקֹ֣ד עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת כׇּל־עֲוֺנֹתֵיכֶֽם׃
(ג) הֲיֵלְכ֥וּ שְׁנַ֖יִם יַחְדָּ֑ו בִּלְתִּ֖י אִם־נוֹעָֽדוּ׃
(ד) הֲיִשְׁאַ֤ג אַרְיֵה֙ בַּיַּ֔עַר וְטֶ֖רֶף אֵ֣ין ל֑וֹ הֲיִתֵּ֨ן כְּפִ֤יר קוֹלוֹ֙ מִמְּעֹ֣נָת֔וֹ בִּלְתִּ֖י אִם־לָכָֽד׃
(ה) הֲתִפֹּ֤ל צִפּוֹר֙ עַל־פַּ֣ח הָאָ֔רֶץ וּמוֹקֵ֖שׁ אֵ֣ין לָ֑הּ הֲיַֽעֲלֶה־פַּח֙ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה וְלָכ֖וֹד לֹ֥א יִלְכּֽוֹד׃
(ו) אִם־יִתָּקַ֤ע שׁוֹפָר֙ בְּעִ֔יר וְעָ֖ם לֹ֣א יֶחֱרָ֑דוּ אִם־תִּֽהְיֶ֤ה רָעָה֙ בְּעִ֔יר וַה' לֹ֥א עָשָֽׂה׃
(ז) כִּ֣י לֹ֧א יַעֲשֶׂ֛ה אדושם ה' דָּבָ֑ר כִּ֚י אִם־גָּלָ֣ה סוֹד֔וֹ אֶל־עֲבָדָ֖יו הַנְּבִיאִֽים׃
(ח) אַרְיֵ֥ה שָׁאָ֖ג מִ֣י לֹ֣א יִירָ֑א אדושם ה' דִּבֶּ֔ר מִ֖י לֹ֥א יִנָּבֵֽא׃
(ט) הַשְׁמִ֙יעוּ֙ עַל־אַרְמְנ֣וֹת בְּאַשְׁדּ֔וֹד וְעַֽל־אַרְמְנ֖וֹת בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְאִמְר֗וּ הֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ עַל־הָרֵ֣י שֹׁמְר֔וֹן וּרְא֞וּ מְהוּמֹ֤ת רַבּוֹת֙ בְּתוֹכָ֔הּ וַעֲשׁוּקִ֖ים בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃
(י) וְלֹא־יָדְע֥וּ עֲשׂוֹת־נְכֹחָ֖ה נְאֻם־ה' הָא֥וֹצְרִ֛ים חָמָ֥ס וָשֹׁ֖ד בְּאַרְמְנוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ {פ}
(יא) לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אדושם ה' צַ֖ר וּסְבִ֣יב הָאָ֑רֶץ וְהוֹרִ֤יד מִמֵּךְ֙ עֻזֵּ֔ךְ וְנָבֹ֖זּוּ אַרְמְנוֹתָֽיִךְ׃
(יב) כֹּה֮ אָמַ֣ר ה' כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ יַצִּ֨יל הָרֹעֶ֜ה מִפִּ֧י הָאֲרִ֛י שְׁתֵּ֥י כְרָעַ֖יִם א֣וֹ בְדַל־אֹ֑זֶן כֵּ֣ן יִנָּצְל֞וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל הַיֹּֽשְׁבִים֙ בְּשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן בִּפְאַ֥ת מִטָּ֖ה וּבִדְמֶ֥שֶׁק עָֽרֶשׂ׃
(יג) שִׁמְע֥וּ וְהָעִ֖ידוּ בְּבֵ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֑ב נְאֻם־אדושם ה' אֱלֹקֵ֥י הַצְּבָאֽוֹת׃
(יד) כִּ֗י בְּי֛וֹם פׇּקְדִ֥י פִשְׁעֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עָלָ֑יו וּפָֽקַדְתִּי֙ עַל־מִזְבְּח֣וֹת בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל וְנִגְדְּעוּ֙ קַרְנ֣וֹת הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וְנָפְל֖וּ לָאָֽרֶץ׃
(טו) וְהִכֵּיתִ֥י בֵית־הַחֹ֖רֶף עַל־בֵּ֣ית הַקָּ֑יִץ וְאָבְד֞וּ בָּתֵּ֣י הַשֵּׁ֗ן וְסָפ֛וּ בָּתִּ֥ים רַבִּ֖ים נְאֻם־ה'׃ {ס}
(1) 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:
(2) 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.
(3) Can two walk together
Without having met?
(4) 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?
(5) 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?
(6) 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?
(7) Indeed, my Sovereign GOD does nothing
Without having revealed the purpose
To God’s servants the prophets.
(8) A lion has roared, Who can but fear?
My Sovereign GOD has spoken,
Who can but prophesy?
(9) Proclaim in the fortresses of Ashdod
And in the fortresses of the land of Egypt!
Say: Gather on the hill of Samaria
And witness the great outrages within her
And the oppression in her midst.
(10) They are incapable of doing right
—declares GOD; They store up lawlessness and rapine In their fortresses.
(11) 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.
(12) Thus said GOD: As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s jaws, Two shank bones or the tip of an ear, So shall the Israelites escape
Who dwell in Samaria—
With the leg of a bed or the head of a couch.
(13) Hear [this], and warn the House of Jacob—says the Sovereign GOD, the God of Hosts— (14) That when I punish Israel for its transgressions, I will wreak judgment on the altar of Bethel, And the horns of the altar shall be cut off And shall fall to the ground.
(15) 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.
(א) שִׁמְע֞וּ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֜י נֹשֵׂ֧א עֲלֵיכֶ֛ם קִינָ֖ה בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
(ב) נָֽפְלָה֙ לֹא־תוֹסִ֣יף ק֔וּם בְּתוּלַ֖ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל נִטְּשָׁ֥ה עַל־אַדְמָתָ֖הּ אֵ֥ין מְקִימָֽהּ׃
(ג) כִּ֣י כֹ֤ה אָמַר֙ אדושם ה' הָעִ֛יר הַיֹּצֵ֥את אֶ֖לֶף תַּשְׁאִ֣יר מֵאָ֑ה וְהַיּוֹצֵ֥את מֵאָ֛ה תַּשְׁאִ֥יר עֲשָׂרָ֖ה לְבֵ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
(ד) כִּ֣י כֹ֥ה אָמַ֛ר ה' לְבֵ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל דִּרְשׁ֖וּנִי וִֽחְיֽוּ׃
(ה) וְאַֽל־תִּדְרְשׁוּ֙ בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל וְהַגִּלְגָּל֙ לֹ֣א תָבֹ֔אוּ וּבְאֵ֥ר שֶׁ֖בַע לֹ֣א תַעֲבֹ֑רוּ כִּ֤י הַגִּלְגָּל֙ גָּלֹ֣ה יִגְלֶ֔ה וּבֵֽית־אֵ֖ל יִהְיֶ֥ה לְאָֽוֶן׃
(ו) דִּרְשׁ֥וּ אֶת־ה' וִֽחְי֑וּ פֶּן־יִצְלַ֤ח כָּאֵשׁ֙ בֵּ֣ית יוֹסֵ֔ף וְאָכְלָ֥ה וְאֵין־מְכַבֶּ֖ה לְבֵֽית־אֵֽל׃
(ז) הַהֹפְכִ֥ים לְלַעֲנָ֖ה מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה לָאָ֥רֶץ הִנִּֽיחוּ׃
(ח) עֹשֵׂ֨ה כִימָ֜ה וּכְסִ֗יל וְהֹפֵ֤ךְ לַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ צַלְמָ֔וֶת וְי֖וֹם לַ֣יְלָה הֶחְשִׁ֑יךְ הַקּוֹרֵ֣א לְמֵֽי־הַיָּ֗ם וַֽיִּשְׁפְּכֵ֛ם עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ ה' שְׁמֽוֹ׃
(ט) הַמַּבְלִ֥יג שֹׁ֖ד עַל־עָ֑ז וְשֹׁ֖ד עַל־מִבְצָ֥ר יָבֽוֹא׃
(י) שָׂנְא֥וּ בַשַּׁ֖עַר מוֹכִ֑יחַ וְדֹבֵ֥ר תָּמִ֖ים יְתָעֵֽבוּ׃
(יא) לָ֠כֵ֠ן יַ֣עַן בּוֹשַׁסְכֶ֞ם עַל־דָּ֗ל וּמַשְׂאַת־בַּר֙ תִּקְח֣וּ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ בָּתֵּ֥י גָזִ֛ית בְּנִיתֶ֖ם וְלֹא־תֵ֣שְׁבוּ בָ֑ם כַּרְמֵי־חֶ֣מֶד נְטַעְתֶּ֔ם וְלֹ֥א תִשְׁתּ֖וּ אֶת־יֵינָֽם׃
(יב) כִּ֤י יָדַ֙עְתִּי֙ רַבִּ֣ים פִּשְׁעֵיכֶ֔ם וַעֲצֻמִ֖ים חַטֹּאתֵיכֶ֑ם צֹרְרֵ֤י צַדִּיק֙ לֹ֣קְחֵי כֹ֔פֶר וְאֶבְיוֹנִ֖ים בַּשַּׁ֥עַר הִטּֽוּ׃
(יג) לָכֵ֗ן הַמַּשְׂכִּ֛יל בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִ֖יא יִדֹּ֑ם כִּ֛י עֵ֥ת רָעָ֖ה הִֽיא׃
(יד) דִּרְשׁוּ־ט֥וֹב וְאַל־רָ֖ע לְמַ֣עַן תִּֽחְי֑וּ וִֽיהִי־כֵ֞ן ה' אֱלֹהֵֽי־צְבָא֛וֹת אִתְּכֶ֖ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲמַרְתֶּֽם׃
(טו) שִׂנְאוּ־רָע֙ וְאֶ֣הֱבוּ ט֔וֹב וְהַצִּ֥יגוּ בַשַּׁ֖עַר מִשְׁפָּ֑ט אוּלַ֗י יֶחֱנַ֛ן ה' אֱלֹהֵֽי־צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁאֵרִ֥ית יוֹסֵֽף׃ {ס}
(טז) לָ֠כֵ֠ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֨ר ה' אֱלֹקֵ֤י צְבָאוֹת֙ אדושם בְּכׇל־רְחֹב֣וֹת מִסְפֵּ֔ד וּבְכׇל־חוּצ֖וֹת יֹאמְר֣וּ הוֹ־ה֑וֹ וְקָרְא֤וּ אִכָּר֙ אֶל־אֵ֔בֶל וּמִסְפֵּ֖ד אֶל־י֥וֹדְעֵי נֶֽהִי׃
(יז) וּבְכׇל־כְּרָמִ֖ים מִסְפֵּ֑ד כִּֽי־אֶעֱבֹ֥ר בְּקִרְבְּךָ֖ אָמַ֥ר ה'׃ {פ}
(יח) ה֥וֹי הַמִּתְאַוִּ֖ים אֶת־י֣וֹם ה' לָמָּה־זֶּ֥ה לָכֶ֛ם י֥וֹם ה' הוּא־חֹ֥שֶׁךְ וְלֹא־אֽוֹר׃
(יט) כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יָנ֥וּס אִישׁ֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י הָאֲרִ֔י וּפְגָע֖וֹ הַדֹּ֑ב וּבָ֣א הַבַּ֔יִת וְסָמַ֤ךְ יָדוֹ֙ עַל־הַקִּ֔יר וּנְשָׁכ֖וֹ הַנָּחָֽשׁ׃
(כ) הֲלֹא־חֹ֛שֶׁךְ י֥וֹם ה' וְלֹא־א֑וֹר וְאָפֵ֖ל וְלֹא־נֹ֥גַֽהּ לֽוֹ׃
(כא) שָׂנֵ֥אתִי מָאַ֖סְתִּי חַגֵּיכֶ֑ם וְלֹ֥א אָרִ֖יחַ בְּעַצְּרֹתֵיכֶֽם׃
(כב) כִּ֣י אִם־תַּעֲלוּ־לִ֥י עֹל֛וֹת וּמִנְחֹתֵיכֶ֖ם לֹ֣א אֶרְצֶ֑ה וְשֶׁ֥לֶם מְרִיאֵיכֶ֖ם לֹ֥א אַבִּֽיט׃
(כג) הָסֵ֥ר מֵעָלַ֖י הֲמ֣וֹן שִׁרֶ֑יךָ וְזִמְרַ֥ת נְבָלֶ֖יךָ לֹ֥א אֶשְׁמָֽע׃
(כד) וְיִגַּ֥ל כַּמַּ֖יִם מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה כְּנַ֥חַל אֵיתָֽן׃
(כה) הַזְּבָחִ֨ים וּמִנְחָ֜ה הִֽגַּשְׁתֶּם־לִ֧י בַמִּדְבָּ֛ר אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
(כו) וּנְשָׂאתֶ֗ם אֵ֚ת סִכּ֣וּת מַלְכְּכֶ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת כִּיּ֣וּן צַלְמֵיכֶ֑ם כּוֹכַב֙ אֱלֹ֣קֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם לָכֶֽם׃
(כז) וְהִגְלֵיתִ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם מֵהָ֣לְאָה לְדַמָּ֑שֶׂק אָמַ֛ר ה' אֱלֹהֵֽי־צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁמֽוֹ׃ {פ}
(1) Hear this word that I intone
As a dirge over you, O House of Israel:
(2) Fallen, not to rise again,
Is Maiden Israel;
Abandoned on her soil With none to lift her up. (3) For thus said the Sovereign GOD
About the House of Israel:
The town that marches out a thousand stron, Shall have a hundred left,
And the one that marches out a hundred strong, Shall have but ten left.
(4) Thus said GOD
To the House of Israel: Seek Me, and you will live.
(5) Do not seek Bethel, Nor go to Gilgal,
Nor cross over (Into Judah) to Beer-sheba;
For Gilgal shall go into exile,
And Bethel shall become a delusion.
(6) Seek GOD, and you will live.
Otherwise, [God] will rush like fire upon the House of Joseph
And consume Bethel with none to quench it.
(7) [Ah,] you who turn justice into wormwood And hurl righteousness to the ground! [Seek GOD,] (8) 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 ! (9) It is [God] who hurls destruction upon strongholds,
So that ruin comes upon fortresses!
(10) They hate the arbiter in the gate,
And detest the one whose plea is just.
(11) Assuredly, Because you impose a tax on the poorAnd 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.
(12) 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! (13) Assuredly,
At such a time the prudent keep silent,
For it is an evil time. (14) 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.
(15) 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.
(16) 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;
(17) For there shall be lamenting
In every vineyard, too, When I pass through your midst—said GOD. (18) Ah, you who wish For the day of GOD ! Why should you want The day of GOD ? It shall be darkness, not light! (19) —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! (20) Surely the day of GOD shall be Not light, but darkness, Blackest night without a glimmer. (21) I loathe, I spurn your festivals, I am not appeased by your solemn assemblies. (22) 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.
(23) Spare Me the sound of your hymns,
And let Me not hear the music of your lutes. (24) But let justice well up like water,
Righteousness like an unfailing stream.
(25) Did you offer sacrifice and oblation to Me Those forty years in the wilderness,
O House of Israel?(26) And you shall carry off your “king”—Sikkuth and Kiyyun, The images you have made for yourselves Of your astral deity—(27) As I drive you into exile beyond Damascus—Said GOD, whose name is God of Hosts.
(10) 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. (11) For Amos has said, ‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall be exiled from its soil.’” (12) Amaziah also said to Amos, “Seer, off with you to the land of Judah! Earn your living there, and do your prophesying there. (13) But don’t ever prophesy again at Bethel; for it is a king’s sanctuary and a royal palace.” (14) Amos answered Amaziah: “I am not a prophet, and I am not a prophet’s disciple. I am a cattle breeder and a tender of sycamore figs. (15) But GOD took me away from following the flock, and GOD said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’ (16) 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; (17) but this, I swear, is what GOD said: Your wife shall play the whore 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 for Israel shall be exiled from its soil.”
The concluding lines of Amos are written as a nechemta, words of consolation or hope. These seem to be edited and added later; their writing does not match the tone of the rest of the book. Redactors sometimes added concluding lines to direct or redirect the meaning of the text.
(יג) הִנֵּ֨ה יָמִ֤ים בָּאִים֙ נְאֻם־ה' וְנִגַּ֤שׁ חוֹרֵשׁ֙ בַּקֹּצֵ֔ר וְדֹרֵ֥ךְ עֲנָבִ֖ים בְּמֹשֵׁ֣ךְ הַזָּ֑רַע וְהִטִּ֤יפוּ הֶֽהָרִים֙ עָסִ֔יס וְכׇל־הַגְּבָע֖וֹת תִּתְמוֹגַֽגְנָה׃
(יד) וְשַׁבְתִּי֮ אֶת־שְׁב֣וּת עַמִּ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וּבָנ֞וּ עָרִ֤ים נְשַׁמּוֹת֙ וְיָשָׁ֔בוּ וְנָטְע֣וּ כְרָמִ֔ים וְשָׁת֖וּ אֶת־יֵינָ֑ם וְעָשׂ֣וּ גַנּ֔וֹת וְאָכְל֖וּ אֶת־פְּרִיהֶֽם׃
(טו) וּנְטַעְתִּ֖ים עַל־אַדְמָתָ֑ם וְלֹ֨א יִנָּתְשׁ֜וּ ע֗וֹד מֵעַ֤ל אַדְמָתָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָתַ֣תִּי לָהֶ֔ם אָמַ֖ר ה' אֱלֹקֶֽיךָ׃
(13) A time is coming
—declares GOD —When the plower shall meet the reaper, 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].
(14) 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.(15) And I will plant them upon their soil, Nevermore to be uprooted
From the soil I have given them—said the ETERNAL your God.