Amos 2:14
◄  Amos 2:14  ►
New International Version (©2011)
The swift will not escape, the strong will not muster their strength, and the warrior will not save his life.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Your fastest runners will not get away. The strongest among you will become weak. Even mighty warriors will be unable to save themselves.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not retain his strength, nor shall the mighty save his life;

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"Flight will perish from the swift, And the stalwart will not strengthen his power, Nor the mighty man save his life.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Escape will fail the swift, the strong one will not prevail by his strength, and the brave will not save his life.

International Standard Version (©2012)
So the swift runner will not escape, the valiant will not fortify his strength, and the mighty warrior will not save his life.

NET Bible (©2006)
Fast runners will find no place to hide; strong men will have no strength left; warriors will not be able to save their lives.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Runners will not be able to escape. Strong men will find that their strength is useless. Soldiers will not be able to save themselves.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his power, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:

American King James Version
Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:

American Standard Version
And flight shall perish from the swift; and the strong shall not strengthen his force; neither shall the mighty deliver himself;

Douay-Rheims Bible
And flight shall perish from the swift, and the valiant shall not possess his strength, neither shall the strong save his life.

Darby Bible Translation
And flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver his soul.

English Revised Version
And flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:

World English Bible
Flight will perish from the swift; and the strong won't strengthen his force; neither shall the mighty deliver himself;

Young's Literal Translation
And perished hath refuge from the swift, And the strong strengtheneth not his power, And the mighty delivereth not his soul.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

2:9-16 We need often to be reminded of the mercies we have received; which add much to the evil of the sins we have committed. They had helps for their souls, which taught them how to make good use of their earthly enjoyments, and were therefore more valuable. Faithful ministers are great blessings to any people; but it is God that raises them up to be so. Sinners' own consciences will witness that he has not been wanting to them in the means of grace. They did what they could to lead believers aside. Satan and his agents are busy to corrupt the minds of young people who look heavenward; they overcome many by drawing them to the love of mirth and pleasure, and into drinking company. Multitudes of young men who bade fair as professors of religion, have erred through strong drink, and have been undone for ever. The Lord complains of sin, especially the sins of his professing people, as a burden to him. And though his long-suffering be tired, his power is not, and so the sinner will find to his cost. When men reject God's word, adding obstinacy to sin, and this becomes the general character of a people, they will be given up to misery, notwithstanding all their boasted power and resources. May we then humble ourselves before the Lord, for all our ingratitude and unfaithfulness.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 14. - In this and the two following verses Amos individualizes the "pressure" that awaits them, when every means of resistance and escape shall fail. The flight shall perish from the swift. The swift of foot shall have no time or way to flee (Jeremiah 25:35; Jeremiah 46:6), Ewald, Pusey, Gandell, for "flight" render "place of flight, refuge," as Job 11:20; Psalm 142:5; Septuagint, φυγή: Vulgate, fuga. Shall not strengthen his force. The strong man shall not be able to collect or put forth his strength to any good purpose (comp. Proverbs 24:5; Nahum 2:1). Neither shall... himself. Some of the Greek manuscripts omit this clause. Deliver himself occurs three times - a kind of solemn refrain.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift,.... They should be so straitened and cooped up, and be so loaded with pressures, that those, as swift of foot as Asahel, should not be able to make their escape by fleeing:

and the strong shall not strengthen his force; should not increase it, or muster it up, and exert it to such a degree, as to be able to defend and secure himself from the enemy:

neither shall the mighty deliver himself; "his soul" or "life"; a soldier, a man of war, an expert and courageous officer at the head of his troop, or even the general of the army; see Psalm 33:16.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

14. flight shall perish from … swift—Even the swift shall not be able to escape.

strong shall not strengthen his force—that is, shall not be able to use his strength.

himself—literally, "his life."

Amos 2:14 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


The Ingratitude of Israel
…13Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves. 14Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself: 15Neither shall he stand that handles the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that rides the horse deliver himself.

Psalm 33:16 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.
Ecclesiastes 9:11 I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.
Isaiah 30:16 You said, 'No, we will flee on horses.' Therefore you will flee! You said, 'We will ride off on swift horses.' Therefore your pursuers will be swift!
Isaiah 30:17 A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee away, till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill."
Jeremiah 9:23 This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches,
Jeremiah 25:35 The shepherds will have nowhere to flee, the leaders of the flock no place to escape.
Jeremiah 39:4 When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled; they left the city at night by way of the king's garden, through the gate between the two walls, and headed toward the Arabah.
Amos 5:9 With a blinding flash he destroys the stronghold and brings the fortified city to ruin.