1 I am Amos. And I raised sheep near the town of Tekoa [1] when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam [2] son of Jehoash [3] was king of Israel. Two years before the earthquake, [4] the LORD gave me several messages [5] about Israel,

2 and I said: When the LORD roars from Jerusalem, pasturelands and Mount Carmel dry up and turn brown.

3 The LORD said: I will punish Syria [6] for countless crimes, and I won’t change my mind. They dragged logs with spikes [7] over the people of Gilead.

4 Now I will burn down the palaces and fortresses of King Hazael and of King Benhadad. [8]

5 I will break through the gates of Damascus. I will destroy the people [9] of Wicked Valley [10] and the ruler of Beth-Eden. [11] Then the Syrians will be dragged as prisoners to Kir. [12] I, the LORD, have spoken!

6 The LORD said: I will punish Philistia [13] for countless crimes, and I won’t change my mind. They dragged off my people [14] from town after town to sell them as slaves to the Edomites.

7 That’s why I will burn down the walls and fortresses of the city of Gaza.

8 I will destroy the king [15] of Ashdod and the ruler of Ashkelon. I will strike down Ekron, [16] and that will be the end of the Philistines. I, the LORD, have spoken!

9 The LORD said: I will punish Phoenicia [17] for countless crimes, and I won’t change my mind. They broke their treaty and dragged off my people [18] from town after town to sell them as slaves to the Edomites.

10 That’s why I will send flames to burn down the city of Tyre along with its fortresses.

11 The LORD said: I will punish Edom for countless crimes, and I won’t change my mind. They killed their own relatives [19] and were so terribly furious that they showed no mercy.

12 Now I will send fire to wipe out the fortresses of Teman and Bozrah. [20]

13 The LORD said: I will punish Ammon for countless crimes, and I won’t change my mind. In Gilead they ripped open pregnant women, just to take the land.

14 Now I will send fire to destroy the walls and fortresses of Rabbah. [21] Enemies will shout and attack like a whirlwind.

15 Ammon’s king and leaders will be dragged away. I, the LORD, have spoken!