TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Amos - Chapter 3
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1Hear this word, O people of Yisrael, That Hashem has spoken concerning you, Concerning the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt:
אשִׁמְעוּ אֶת־הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָה עֲלֵיכֶם בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל כָּל־הַמִּשְׁפָּחָה אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלֵיתִי מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לֵאמֹר׃
2You alone have I singled out Of all the families of the earth— That is why I will call you to account For all your iniquities.
ברַק אֶתְכֶם יָדַעְתִּי מִכֹּל מִשְׁפְּחוֹת הָאֲדָמָה עַל־כֵּן אֶפְקֹד עֲלֵיכֶם אֵת כָּל־עֲוׂנֹתֵיכֶם׃
3Can two walk together Without having met?
גהֲיֵלְכוּ שְׁנַיִם יַחְדָּו בִּלְתִּי אִם־נוֹעָדוּ׃
4Does a lion roar in the forest When he has no prey? Does a great beast let out a cry from its den Without having made a capture?
ha-yish-AG ar-YAY ba-YA-ar v'-TE-ref AYN LO ha-yi-TAYN k'-FEER ko-LO mi-m'-o-na-TO bil-TEE im la-KHAD
דהֲיִשְׁאַג אַרְיֵה בַּיַּעַר וְטֶרֶף אֵין לוֹ הֲיִתֵּן כְּפִיר קוֹלוֹ מִמְּעֹנָתוֹ בִּלְתִּי אִם־לָכָד׃
3:4 Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey?
A lion at the Ramat Gan safari
In ancient Israel, lions inhabited the forested areas of the country, and are therefore commonly used as metaphors in the Bible. A lion roars when he is about to attack his prey. An astute animal who hears a roar understands that the lion is about to attack, and rushes to escape. An unperceptive animal, on the other hand, will get caught and destroyed. The message to the Jewish people is to pay attention to the warning signs of impending destruction, and do what is necessary to prevent it. Those who choose to ignore these signs will suffer the consequences.
5Does a bird drop on the ground—in a trap— With no snare there? Does a trap spring up from the ground Unless it has caught something?
ההֲתִפֹּל צִפּוֹר עַל־פַּח הָאָרֶץ וּמוֹקֵשׁ אֵין לָהּ הֲיַעֲלֶה־פַּח מִן־הָאֲדָמָה וְלָכוֹד לֹא יִלְכּוֹד׃
6When a shofar is sounded in a town, Do the people not take alarm? Can misfortune come to a town If Hashem has not caused it?
ואִם־יִתָּקַע שׁוֹפָר בְּעִיר וְעָם לֹא יֶחֱרָדוּ אִם־תִּהְיֶה רָעָה בְּעִיר וַיהֹוָה לֹא עָשָׂה׃
7Indeed, my God does nothing Without having revealed His purpose To His servants the Neviim.
זכִּי לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה דָּבָר כִּי אִם־גָּלָה סוֹדוֹ אֶל־עֲבָדָיו הַנְּבִיאִים׃
8A lion has roared, Who can but fear? My Hashem has spoken, Who can but prophesy?
חאַרְיֵה שָׁאָג מִי לֹא יִירָא אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה דִּבֶּר מִי לֹא יִנָּבֵא׃
9Proclaim in the fortresses of Ashdod And in the fortresses of the land of Egypt! Say: Gather on the hill of Shomron And witness the great outrages within her And the oppression in her midst.
טהַשְׁמִיעוּ עַל־אַרְמְנוֹת בְּאַשְׁדּוֹד וְעַל־אַרְמְנוֹת בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם וְאִמְרוּ הֵאָסְפוּ עַל־הָרֵי שֹׁמְרוֹן וּרְאוּ מְהוּמֹת רַבּוֹת בְּתוֹכָהּ וַעֲשׁוּקִים בְּקִרְבָּהּ׃
10They are incapable of doing right —declares Hashem; They store up lawlessness and rapine In their fortresses.
יוְלֹא־יָדְעוּ עֲשׂוֹת־נְכֹחָה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה הָאוֹצְרִים חָמָס וָשֹׁד בְּאַרְמְנוֹתֵיהֶם׃
11Assuredly, Thus said my God: An enemy, all about the land! He shall strip you of your splendor, And your fortresses shall be plundered.
יאלָכֵן כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה צַר וּסְבִיב הָאָרֶץ וְהוֹרִד מִמֵּךְ עֻזֵּךְ וְנָבֹזּוּ אַרְמְנוֹתָיִךְ׃
12Thus said Hashem: As a shepherd rescues from the lion's jaws Two shank bones or the tip of an ear, So shall the Israelites escape Who dwell in Shomron— With the leg of a bed or the head of a couch.
יבכֹּה אָמַר יְהֹוָה כַּאֲשֶׁר יַצִּיל הָרֹעֶה מִפִּי הָאֲרִי שְׁתֵּי כְרָעַיִם אוֹ בְדַל־אֹזֶן כֵּן יִנָּצְלוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הַיֹּשְׁבִים בְּשֹׁמְרוֹן בִּפְאַת מִטָּה וּבִדְמֶשֶׁק עָרֶשׂ׃
13Hear [this], and warn the House of Yaakov —says my Lord Hashem, the God of Hosts—
יגשִׁמְעוּ וְהָעִידוּ בְּבֵית יַעֲקֹב נְאֻם־אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה אֱלֹהֵי הַצְּבָאוֹת׃
14That when I punish Yisrael for its transgressions, I will wreak judgment on the altar of Beit El, And the horns of the altar shall be cut off And shall fall to the ground.
ידכִּי בְּיוֹם פָּקְדִי פִשְׁעֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל עָלָיו וּפָקַדְתִּי עַל־מִזְבְּחוֹת בֵּית־אֵל וְנִגְדְּעוּ קַרְנוֹת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְנָפְלוּ לָאָרֶץ׃
15I will wreck the winter palace Together with the summer palace; The ivory palaces shall be demolished, And the great houses shall be destroyed —declares Hashem.
טווְהִכֵּיתִי בֵית־הַחֹרֶף עַל־בֵּית הַקָּיִץ וְאָבְדוּ בָּתֵּי הַשֵּׁן וְסָפוּ בָּתִּים רַבִּים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה׃