NETtext - Amos - 7

7:1  The sovereign LORD showed me this: I saw him making locusts just as the crops planted late were beginning to sprout. (The crops planted late sprout after the royal harvest. )

7:2  When they had completely consumed the earth's vegetation, I said,"Sovereign LORD, forgive Israel! How can Jacob survive? He is too weak!"

7:3  The LORD decided not to do this. "It will not happen," the LORD said.

7:4  The sovereign LORD showed me this: I saw the sovereign LORD summoning a shower of fire. It consumed the great deep and devoured the fields.

7:5  I said, "Sovereign LORD, stop! How can Jacob survive? He is too weak!"

7:6  The LORD decided not to do this. The sovereign LORD said, "This will not happen either."

7:7  He showed me this: I saw the sovereign One standing by a tin wall holding tin in his hand.

7:8  The LORD said to me, "What do you see, Amos?" I said, "Tin." The sovereign One then said,"Look, I am about to place tin among my people Israel. I will no longer overlook their sin.

7:9  Isaac's centers of worship will become desolate; Israel's holy places will be in ruins. I will attack Jeroboam's dynasty with the sword."

7:10  Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent this message to King Jeroboam of Israel: "Amos is conspiring against you in the very heart of the kingdom of Israel! The land cannot endure all his prophecies.

7:11  As a matter of fact, Amos is saying this: 'Jeroboam will die by the sword and Israel will certainly be carried into exile away from its land.'"

7:12  Amaziah then said to Amos, "Leave, you visionary! Run away to the land of Judah! Earn your living and prophesy there!

7:13  Don't prophesy at Bethel any longer, for a royal temple and palace are here!"

7:14  Amos replied to Amaziah, "I was not a prophet by profession. No, I was a herdsman who also took care of sycamore fig trees.

7:15  Then the LORD took me from tending flocks and gave me this commission, 'Go! Prophesy to my people Israel!'

7:16  So now listen to the LORD's message! You say, 'Don't prophesy against Israel! Don't preach against the family of Isaac!'

7:17  "Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'Your wife will become a prostitute in the streets and your sons and daughters will die violently. Your land will be given to others and you will die in a foreign land. Israel will certainly be carried into exile away from its land.'"