1These are the words of Amos. He was a shepherd from the town of Tekoa. Here is the vision he saw concerning Israel. It came to him two years before the earthquake. At that time Uzziah was king of Judah. Jeroboam, the son of Jehoash, was king of Israel. Here are the words of Amos.
2He said,
“The Lord roars like a lion from Jerusalem.
His voice sounds like thunder from Zion.
The grasslands of the shepherds turn brown.
The top of Mount Carmel dries up.”
The Lord Judges Israel’s Neighbors
3The Lord says,
“The people of Damascus have sinned again and again.
So I will judge them.
They used threshing sleds with iron teeth
to crush Gilead’s people.
4So I will send fire to destroy the palace of King Hazael.
It will burn up the forts of his son Ben-Hadad.
5I will break down the city gate of Damascus.
I will kill the king
who lives in the Valley of Aven, that evil place.
He holds the ruler’s scepter in Beth Eden.
The people of Aram will be taken away to Kir as prisoners,”
says the Lord.
6The Lord says,
“The people of Gaza have sinned again and again.
So I will judge them.
They captured whole communities.
They sold them to Edom.
7So I will send fire to destroy the walls of Gaza.
It will burn up its forts.
8I will kill the king of Ashdod.
He holds the ruler’s scepter in Ashkelon.
I will use my power against Ekron.
Every single Philistine will die,”
says the Lord and King.
9The Lord says,
“The people of Tyre have sinned again and again.
So I will judge them.
They captured whole communities.
They sold them to Edom.
They did not honor the treaty
of friendship they had made.
10So I will send fire to destroy the walls of Tyre.
It will burn up its forts.”
11The Lord says,
“The people of Edom have sinned again and again.
So I will judge them.
They chased Israel with swords
that were ready to strike them down.
They killed the women of the land.
They were angry all the time.
Their anger was like a fire that blazed out.
It could not be stopped.
12So I will send fire to destroy the city of Teman.
It will burn up Bozrah’s forts.”
13The Lord says,
“The people of Ammon have sinned again and again.
So I will judge them.
They ripped open the pregnant women in Gilead.
They wanted to add land to their territory.
14So I will set fire to destroy the walls of Rabbah.
It will burn up its forts.
War cries will be heard on that day of battle.
Strong winds will blow on that stormy day.
15Ammon’s king will be carried away.
So will his officials,”
says the Lord.
1Denne bog indeholder de budskaber, som Herren åbenbarede for fårehyrden Amos fra landsbyen Tekoa to år før jordskælvet. Det var mens Uzzija var konge i Juda, og Jeroboam, søn af Joash, var konge i Israel.1,1 Uzzija var formodentlig konge fra 792-740 f.Kr. og Jeroboam fra 793-753 f. Kr. 2Amos begyndte:
„Når Herren råber fra Jerusalem,
når han brøler som en løve fra Zion,
da visner græsset på marken,
og Karmels regnskove tørrer ud.”
Guds dom over Israels nabofolk
3Herren siger:
„Damaskus har gjort oprør gang på gang,
jeg vil ikke holde min straf tilbage.
De knuste mit folk i Gilead
som under en tærskeslæde med jernpigge.
4Jeg sætter ild til kong Hazaels palads,
ødelægger Ben-Hadads fæstningsværker.
5Jeg smadrer Damaskus’ byporte,
fjerner dem, der bor på ondskabens slette.1,5 Eller: Bikat-Aven, som betyder ondskabens slette.
Aramæernes konge nyder livet på tronen,1,5 Mere ordret: „han, der holder scepteret i Bet-Eden (glædens hus).”
men hele hans folk bliver sendt tilbage til Kir.”
Gud har talt!
6Herren siger:
„Gaza har gjort oprør gang på gang,
jeg vil ikke holde min straf tilbage.
De sendte en hel befolkning i eksil,
solgte dem som slaver til Edom.
7Jeg sætter ild til Gazas mure,
ødelægger byens fæstningsværker.
8Jeg dræber kongen af Ashdod,
og tilintetgør regenten i Ashkalon.
Jeg udrydder Ekrons befolkning,
ja, hver eneste filister skal dræbes.”
Gud Herren har talt!
9Herren siger:
„Tyrus har gjort oprør gang på gang,
jeg vil ikke holde min straf tilbage.
De solgte en hel befolkning til Edom,
selv om de havde sluttet fredspagt med dem.
10Jeg sætter ild til Tyrus’ mure,
nedbrænder byens fæstningsværker.”
11Herren siger:
„Edom har gjort oprør gang på gang,
jeg vil ikke holde min straf tilbage.
De angreb deres broderfolk
og lod hånt om al barmhjertighed.
De rev og flåede uden ophør,
der var ingen ende på deres vrede.
12Jeg sætter ild til Teman,
nedbrænder Botzras fæstningsværker.”
13Herren siger:
„Ammon har gjort oprør gang på gang,
jeg vil ikke holde min straf tilbage.
Under et erobringstogt i Gilead
skar de maven op på gravide kvinder.
14Derfor sætter jeg ild til Rabbas bymure,
nedbrænder deres fæstningsværker.
Slagmarken vil fyldes med råb og skrig,
kampen vil rase som en ødelæggende orkan.
15Ammons konge bliver sendt i eksil,
og landets ledere bliver alle ført bort.”
Gud har talt!
