Warning through Visions

1This is what the Lord [a]GOD showed me, and behold, He was forming a swarm of locusts [b]when the spring crop began to sprout. And behold, the spring crop was after the king’s mowing. 2And it came about, [c]when it had finished eating the vegetation of the land, that I said,

“Lord GOD, please pardon!

How can Jacob stand?

For he is small.”

3The LORD relented of this.

“It shall not be,” said the LORD.

4So the Lord GOD showed me, and behold, the Lord GOD was calling to contend with them by fire, and it consumed the great deep and began to consume the [d]farmland. 5Then I said,

“Lord GOD, please stop!

How can Jacob stand?

For he is small.”

6The LORD relented of this.

“This too shall not be,” said the Lord GOD.

7So He showed me, and behold, the Lord was standing [e]by a [f]vertical wall with a plumb line in His hand. 8And the LORD said to me, “What do you see, Amos?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said,

“Behold I am about to put a plumb line

In the midst of My people Israel.

I will not [g]spare them any longer.

9“The high places of Isaac will become deserted,

And the sanctuaries of Israel will be in ruins.

Then I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.”

Amos Accused; Gives an Answer

10Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent word to 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. 11For this is what Amos says: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.’” 12Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Go, you seer, flee to the land of Judah; and eat bread there and do your prophesying there! 13But do not prophesy at Bethel any longer, for it is a sanctuary of the king and a royal [h]residence.”

14Then Amos replied to Amaziah, “I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a [i]grower of sycamore figs. 15But the LORD took me from [j]following the flock, and the LORD said to me, ‘Go prophesy to My people Israel.’ 16So now hear the word of the LORD: you are saying, ‘You shall not prophesy against Israel nor shall you [k]prophesy against the house of Isaac.’ 17Therefore, this is what the LORD says: ‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, your sons and your daughters will fall by the sword, your land will be parceled up by a measuring line, and you yourself will die [l]upon unclean soil. Furthermore Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.’”