Amos 2:8

2:8 They stretch out on clothing seized as collateral;

they do so right ¹  beside every altar!

They drink wine bought with the fines they have levied;

they do so right in the temple ²  of their God! ³ 

Joel 3:3

3:3 and they cast lots for my people.

They traded ⁴  a boy for a prostitute;

they sold a little girl for wine so they could drink. ⁵ 

[2:8]  ¹ tn The words “They do so right” are supplied twice in the translation of this verse for clarification.

[2:8]  ² tn Heb “house.”

[2:8]  ³ tn Or “gods.” The Hebrew term אֱלֹהֵיהֶם (’elohehem) may be translated “their gods” (referring to pagan gods), “their god” (referring to a pagan god, cf. NAB, NIV, NLT), or “their God” (referring to the God of Israel, cf. NASB, NRSV).

[3:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “gave.”

[3:3]  ⁵ sn Heb “and they drank.” Joel vividly refers to a situation where innocent human life has little value; its only worth is its use in somehow satisfying selfish appetites of wicked people who have control over others (cf. Amos 2:6 and 8:6).