(1) The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa--what he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash[1] was king of Israel.
(2) He said: "The LORD roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds dry up,[2] and the top of Carmel withers."
(3) This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Damascus, even for four, I will not turn back [my wrath]. Because she threshed Gilead with sledges having iron teeth,
(4) I will send fire upon the house of Hazael that will consume the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.
(5) I will break down the gate of Damascus; I will destroy the king who is in[3] the Valley of Aven[4] and the one who holds the scepter in Beth Eden. The people of Aram will go into exile to Kir," says the LORD.
(6) This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Gaza, even for four, I will not turn back [my wrath]. Because she took captive whole communities and sold them to Edom,
(7) I will send fire upon the walls of Gaza that will consume her fortresses.
(8) I will destroy the king[5] of Ashdod and the one who holds the scepter in Ashkelon. I will turn my hand against Ekron, till the last of the Philistines is dead," says the Sovereign LORD.
(9) This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Tyre, even for four, I will not turn back [my wrath]. Because she sold whole communities of captives to Edom, disregarding a treaty of brotherhood,
(10) I will send fire upon the walls of Tyre that will consume her fortresses."
(11) This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Edom, even for four, I will not turn back [my wrath]. Because he pursued his brother with a sword, stifling all compassion,[6] because his anger raged continually and his fury flamed unchecked,
(12) I will send fire upon Teman that will consume the fortresses of Bozrah."
(13) This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Ammon, even for four, I will not turn back [my wrath]. Because he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to extend his borders,
(14) I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah that will consume her fortresses amid war cries on the day of battle, amid violent winds on a stormy day.
(15) Her king[7] will go into exile, he and his officials together," says the LORD.