For this reason whoever is smart keeps quiet in such a time, for it is an evil time.

Even if you offer me burnt and grain offerings, I will not be satisfied; I will not look with favor on your peace offerings of fattened calves.

Indeed, look! The Lord is giving the command. He will smash the large house to bits, and the small house into little pieces.

I said, “Sovereign Lord, stop! How can Jacob survive? He is too weak!”

As a matter of fact, Amos is saying this: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword and Israel will certainly be carried into exile away from its land.’”

“Go immediately to Nineveh, that large capital city, and announce judgment against its people because their wickedness has come to my attention.”

Because the storm was growing worse and worse, they said to him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?”

Instead, they tried to row back to land, but they were not able to do so because the storm kept growing worse and worse.

So now, Lord, kill me instead, because I would rather die than live!”

Look, the Lord is coming out of his dwelling place! He will descend and march on the earth’s mountaintops!

Shave your heads bald as you mourn for the children you love; shave your foreheads as bald as an eagle, for they are taken from you into exile.

But you are the ones who will be forced to leave! For this land is not secure! Sin will thoroughly destroy it!

The prophets will be ashamed; the omen readers will be humiliated. All of them will cover their mouths, for they will receive no divine oracles.”

But they do not know what the Lord is planning; they do not understand his strategy. He has gathered them like stalks of grain to be threshed at the threshing floor.

Surely they will be totally consumed like entangled thorn bushes, like the drink of drunkards, like very dry stubble.

Because of his success he offers sacrifices to his throw net and burns incense to his dragnet; for because of them he has plenty of food, and more than enough to eat.

For recognition of the Lord’s sovereign majesty will fill the earth just as the waters fill up the sea.

Wail, you who live in the market district, for all the merchants will disappear and those who count money will be removed.

I will bring distress on the people and they will stumble like blind men, for they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dirt; their flesh will be scattered like manure.

Indeed, Gaza will be deserted and Ashkelon will become a heap of ruins. Invaders will drive away the people of Ashdod by noon, and Ekron will be overthrown.