10 But they (A)do not know how to do what is right,” declares the Lord, “these who (B)hoard up [a]violence and devastation in their citadels.”

11 Therefore, thus says the Lord God,

“An (C)enemy, even one surrounding the land,
Will pull down your [b]strength from you
And your (D)citadels will be looted.”

12 Thus says the Lord,

“Just as the shepherd [c](E)snatches from the lion’s mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear,
So will the sons of Israel dwelling in Samaria be [d]snatched away—
With the (F)corner of a bed and the [e](G)cover of a couch!

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Footnotes

  1. Amos 3:10 I.e. the booty from violence
  2. Amos 3:11 Or stronghold
  3. Amos 3:12 Or delivers
  4. Amos 3:12 Or delivered
  5. Amos 3:12 Lit damask

10 “They do not know how to do right,(A)” declares the Lord,
    “who store up in their fortresses(B)
    what they have plundered(C) and looted.”

11 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“An enemy will overrun your land,
    pull down your strongholds
    and plunder your fortresses.(D)

12 This is what the Lord says:

“As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s(E) mouth
    only two leg bones or a piece of an ear,
so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued,
    with only the head of a bed
    and a piece of fabric[a] from a couch.[b](F)

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Footnotes

  1. Amos 3:12 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  2. Amos 3:12 Or Israelites be rescued, / those who sit in Samaria / on the edge of their beds / and in Damascus on their couches.