1 Warning Through Visions Thus the Lord Gshowed me [a vision], and behold, He was forming a swarm of locusts when the spring crop began to sprout. And behold, the spring crop was after the king’s mowing.
2 And when the locusts had finished eating the plants of the land, then I said,“O Lord G, please forgive!How can Jacob stand,For he is so small [that he cannot endure this]?”
3 The Lrevoked this sentence.“It shall not take place,” said the L.
4 Thus the Lord Gshowed me, and behold, the Lord Gcalled for punishment with fire, and it devoured the great deep [underground sources of water] and began to consume the land.
5 Then I said,“O Lord G, please stop!How can Jacob stand,For he is so small [that he cannot endure this]?”
6 The Lrevoked this sentence.“This also shall not be,” said the Lord G.
7 Thus He showed me [a vision], and behold, the Lord was standing by a vertical wall with a plumb line in His hand [to determine if the wall was straight or if it needed to be destroyed].
8 The Lsaid to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said,“Behold, I am setting a plumb line [as a standard]Among My people Israel [showing the defectiveness of the nation, requiring judgment].I shall not spare them any longer. [The door of mercy is shut.]
9 And the [idolatrous] high places of Isaac (Israel) will be devastatedanddeserted,And the sanctuaries of Israel will be in ruins.Then I shall rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the sword [and destroy the monarchy].”
10 Amos Accused, Answers Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel [site of the golden calf shrine], sentwordtoJeroboam II ruled Israel from 793-753 b.c.Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel; the land is unable to endure all his words.
11 For in this way Amos has said, ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword and Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.’ ”
12 Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Go, you seer, run for your life [from Israel] to the land of Judah [your own country] and eat bread and live as a prophet there!
13 But do not prophesy any longer at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary and a royal residence.”
14 Then Amos replied to Amaziah, “I am not a prophet [by profession], nor am I a prophet’s son; I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs.
15 But the Ltook me as I followed the flock and the Lsaid to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’
16 Now therefore, listen to the word of the L: You say, ‘You shall not prophesy against Israel nor shall you speak against the house of Isaac.’
17 Therefore, thus says the L, ‘Your wife shall become a prostitute in the city [when theAssyria invaded Israel during the reign of Hoshea (2 Kin 17:5, 6).Assyrians capture Samaria] and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided by a measuring line; you yourself shall die in an uncleananddefiled [pagan] land, and Israel shall certainly go from its land into exile.’ ”