Judgment on Israel

       This is what THE LORD says:

       "For three sins of Israel,

          even for four, I will not turn back MY wrath.

       They sell the righteous for silver,

          and the needy for a pair of sandals.

       They trample on the heads of the poor

          as upon the dust of the ground

          and deny justice to the oppressed.

       Father and son use the same girl

          and so profane MY holy name.

       They lie down beside every altar

          on garments taken in pledge.

       In the house of their god

          they drink wine taken as fines.

       "I destroyed the Amorite before them,

          though he was tall as the cedars

          and strong as the oaks.

       I destroyed his fruit above

          and his roots below.

       "I brought you up out of Egypt,

          and I led you forty years in the desert

          to give you the land of the Amorites.

       I also raised up prophets from among your sons

          and Nazirites from among your young men.

       Is this not true, people of Israel?"

                                                 declares THE LORD.

       "But you made the Nazirites drink wine

          and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.

       "Now then, I will crush you

          as a cart crushes when loaded with grain.

       The swift will not escape,

          the strong will not muster their strength,

          and the warrior will not save his life.

       The archer will not stand his ground,

          the fleet-footed soldier will not get away,

          and the horseman will not save his life.

       Even the bravest warriors

          will flee naked on that day,"

                                                 declares THE LORD.

The Book of Amos: chapter 2, verses 6 - 16