Amos 3:1-6

1 Écoutez cette parole, que l'Éternel a prononcée contre vous, enfants d'Israël, contre toute la famille que j'ai fait monter du pays d'Égypte.
2 Il a dit: Je n'ai connu que vous d'entre toutes les familles de la terre; c'est pourquoi je vous châtierai pour toutes vos iniquités.
3 Deux hommes marchent-ils ensemble, sans en être convenus?
4 Le lion rugit-il dans la forêt, sans qu'il ait une proie? Le lionceau jette-t-il son cri de sa tanière, sans qu'il ait rien pris?
5 L'oiseau tombe-t-il dans le filet qui est à terre, sans qu'il y ait un piège? Le filet se lève-t-il du sol, sans qu'il y ait rien de pris?
6 Si la trompette sonne dans une ville, le peuple ne sera-t-il pas alarmé? Et s'il arrive un malheur dans une ville, n'est-ce pas l'Éternel qui l'a fait?

Amos 3:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 3

In this chapter the prophet goes on with his prophecy against Israel, whom God had highly favoured, and yet sinned against him, and therefore must expect to be punished by him; and the rather, since he and they were not agreed; and therefore there could be no communion between them, Am 3:1-3; and by various similes are set forth the cause of divine judgments, the certain design of them, and their continuance, till the end is answered; which should be attended to, since every thing of this kind is of God, who giving his prophets notice of it, they are under an absolute necessity of declaring it; nor should they be blamed for it, Am 3:4-8; and even the Heathen nations are appealed unto as witnesses of the sins of Israel, that caused such a denunciation of wrath; their tumults, oppression, injustice, violence, and robbery, Am 3:9,10; wherefore an adversary is threatened to be sent among them, that should utterly destroy them, so that few should escape, Am 3:11,12; particularly their idolatry and luxury seem to have been reigning sins, which had a great hand in bringing on their rum, and for which the Lord would punish them, Am 3:13-15.

The Ostervald translation is in the public domain.