Amos 1:3--2:6

1:3 This is what the Lord says:

“Because Damascus has committed three crimes –

make that four! – I will not revoke my

decree of judgment.

They ripped through Gilead like threshing sledges with iron teeth.

1:4 So I will set Hazael’s house on fire;

fire will consume Ben Hadad’s fortresses.

1:5 I will break the bar on the gate of Damascus.

I will remove the ruler from Wicked Valley,

the one who holds the royal scepter from Beth Eden.

The people of Aram will be deported to Kir.”

The Lord has spoken!

1:6 This is what the Lord says:

“Because Gaza has committed three crimes –

make that four! – I will not revoke my decree of judgment.

They deported a whole community and sold them to Edom.

1:7 So I will set Gaza’s city wall on fire;

fire will consume her fortresses.

1:8 I will remove the ruler from Ashdod,

the one who holds the royal scepter from Ashkelon.

I will strike Ekron with my hand;

the rest of the Philistines will also die.”

The sovereign Lord has spoken!

1:9 This is what the Lord says:

“Because Tyre has committed three crimes –

make that four! – I will not revoke my decree of judgment.

They sold a whole community to Edom;

they failed to observe a treaty of brotherhood.

1:10 So I will set fire to Tyre’s city wall;

fire will consume her fortresses.”

1:11 This is what the Lord says:

“Because Edom has committed three crimes –

make that four! – I will not revoke my decree of judgment.

He chased his brother with a sword;

he wiped out his allies.

In his anger he tore them apart without stopping to rest;

in his fury he relentlessly attacked them.

1:12 So I will set Teman on fire;

fire will consume Bozrah’s fortresses.”

1:13 This is what the Lord says:

“Because the Ammonites have committed three crimes –

make that four! – I will not revoke my decree of judgment.

They ripped open Gilead’s pregnant women

so they could expand their territory.

1:14 So I will set fire to Rabbah’s city wall;

fire will consume her fortresses.

War cries will be heard on the day of battle;

a strong gale will blow on the day of the windstorm.

1:15 Ammon’s king will be deported;

he and his officials will be carried off together.”

The Lord has spoken!

2:1 This is what the Lord says:

“Because Moab has committed three crimes –

make that four! – I will not revoke my decree of judgment.

They burned the bones of Edom’s king into lime.

2:2 So I will set Moab on fire,

and it will consume Kerioth’s fortresses.

Moab will perish in the heat of battle

amid war cries and the blaring of the ram’s horn.

2:3 I will remove Moab’s leader;

I will kill all Moab’s officials with him.”

The Lord has spoken!

2:4 This is what the Lord says:

“Because Judah has committed three covenant transgressions –

make that four! – I will not revoke my decree of judgment.

They rejected the Lord’s law;

they did not obey his commands.

Their false gods,

to which their fathers were loyal,

led them astray.

2:5 So I will set Judah on fire,

and it will consume Jerusalem’s fortresses.”

God Will Judge Israel

2:6 This is what the Lord says:

“Because Israel has committed three covenant transgressions –

make that four! – I will not revoke my decree of judgment.

They sold the innocent for silver,

the needy for a pair of sandals.