Amos 6
Expanded Bible
Israel Will Be Destroyed
6 ·How terrible it will be for [L Woe to] those who ·have an easy life [are complacent/at ease] in Jerusalem,
for those who feel ·safe living [secure] on Mount Samaria.
You think you are ·the important people [notable/renowned men] of the ·best nation in the world [first among the nations];
the ·Israelites [L house of Israel] come to you for help.
2 Go look at the city of Calneh,
and from there go to the great city Hamath [C Aramean city-states under the control of Israel];
then go down to Gath of the Philistines.
·You are no better than these kingdoms [L Are they better than your kingdoms?].
·Your land is no larger than theirs [L Is their territory greater than yours?].
3 You put off the ·day of punishment [day of disaster/doom; L evil day],
but you ·bring near [establish] ·the day when you can do evil to others [a reign of terror; L the seat of violence].
4 You lie on beds ·decorated with ivory [L of ivory]
and stretch out on your couches.
You eat ·tender lambs [L lambs from the flock]
and ·fattened calves [L calves from the midst of the stall].
5 You ·make up songs [or strum away; or sing idly] on your ·harps [stringed instruments],
and, like David, you ·compose [or improvise] songs on musical instruments.
6 You drink wine by the bowlful
and ·use [anoint yourselves with] the ·best perfumed lotions [finest oils].
But you ·are not sad [do not grieve; are unconcerned] over the ruin of Israel,
7 so you will be some of the first ones ·taken as slaves [to go into exile].
Your ·feasting and lying around [reclining at banquets] will come to an end.
8 The Lord God ·made this promise [L has sworn by himself]; the Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] says:
“I ·hate [abhor] the pride of ·the Israelites [L Jacob],
and I ·hate [detest] their ·strong buildings [fortresses; palaces],
so I will ·let the enemy take [deliver up] the city
and everything in it.”
9 ·At that time there might be only [L If there are] ten people left alive in just one house, but they will also die. 10 When the relatives come to take the bodies out of the house to ·bury them [or burn them; or anoint them for burial], one of them will call to ·the other [or any survivors] and ask, “Are there any other dead bodies with you?”
That person will answer, “No.”
Then the one who asked will say, “Hush! We must not say the name of the Lord.” [C This could mean do not say the Lord’s name lest he return with more judgment, or do not pronounce a eulogy using the Lord’s name on those already judged by God, or do not acknowledge the Lord because of resentment of his judgment.]
11 The Lord has given the command;
the large house will be ·broken [smashed] into pieces,
and the small house into bits.
12 ·Horses do not [L Can horses…?] run on rocks,
and ·people do not [L can people…?] plow ·rocks [or the sea] with oxen.
But you have changed ·fairness [justice] into poison;
you have changed ·what is right [L the fruit of righteousness] into ·a bitter taste [L wormwood; 5:7].
13 You ·are happy that the town of Lo Debar was captured [L rejoiced over Lo Debar; C a town across the Jordan whose name means “nothing,” mocking Israel’s conquest of it as insignificant],
and you say, “We have taken Karnaim [C another insignificant town across the Jordan conquered by the Israelites] by our own strength.”
14 The Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] says,
“·Israel [L House of Israel], I will bring a nation against you
that will ·make your people suffer [oppress you] from Lebo Hamath [C in the far north]
to the valley ·south of the Dead Sea [L of the Arabah; C in the far south; 2 Kin. 14:25; Israel had oppressed others, but would now be oppressed].”
Amos 6
New International Version
Woe to the Complacent
6 Woe to you(A) who are complacent(B) in Zion,
and to you who feel secure(C) on Mount Samaria,(D)
you notable men of the foremost nation,
to whom the people of Israel come!(E)
2 Go to Kalneh(F) and look at it;
go from there to great Hamath,(G)
and then go down to Gath(H) in Philistia.
Are they better off than(I) your two kingdoms?
Is their land larger than yours?
3 You put off the day of disaster
and bring near a reign of terror.(J)
4 You lie on beds adorned with ivory
and lounge on your couches.(K)
You dine on choice lambs
and fattened calves.(L)
5 You strum away on your harps(M) like David
and improvise on musical instruments.(N)
6 You drink wine(O) by the bowlful
and use the finest lotions,
but you do not grieve(P) over the ruin of Joseph.(Q)
7 Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile;(R)
your feasting and lounging will end.(S)
The Lord Abhors the Pride of Israel
8 The Sovereign Lord has sworn by himself(T)—the Lord God Almighty declares:
“I abhor(U) the pride of Jacob(V)
and detest his fortresses;(W)
I will deliver up(X) the city
and everything in it.(Y)”
9 If ten(Z) people are left in one house, they too will die. 10 And if the relative who comes to carry the bodies out of the house to burn them[a](AA) asks anyone who might be hiding there, “Is anyone else with you?” and he says, “No,” then he will go on to say, “Hush!(AB) We must not mention the name of the Lord.”
11 For the Lord has given the command,
and he will smash(AC) the great house(AD) into pieces
and the small house into bits.(AE)
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.