Our Father Judges the Nations
1 1 The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. 1 1 v1 This earthquake struck around 760 BC and was still remembered generations later — see Zechariah 14:5. 2 He said: Our Father roars from Zion and lifts his voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the summit of Carmel withers.
3 Thus says our Father: For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn it back, because they threshed Gilead with sledges of iron. 2 2 v3 "For three transgressions, and for four" is a Hebrew way of saying the offenses have piled past counting — not a literal tally, but a measure long since overflowing. 4 So I will send a fire upon the house of Hazael and it will devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad. 5 I will break the gate-bar of Damascus and cut off the one who sits enthroned in the Valley of Aven and the one who holds the scepter in Beth-eden and the people of Aram will go into exile to Kir, says our Father.
6 Thus says our Father: For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn it back, because they carried into exile a whole people, to hand them over to Edom. 7 So I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza and it will devour her strongholds. 8 I will cut off the one enthroned in Ashdod and the one who holds the scepter in Ashkelon I will turn my hand against Ekron and the remnant of the Philistines will perish, says the Sovereign Father.
9 Thus says our Father: For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I will not turn it back, because they handed over a whole people of exiles to Edom and did not remember the covenant of brothers. 10 So I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre and it will devour her strongholds.
11 Thus says our Father: For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn it back, because he pursued his brother with the sword and stifled all compassion; his anger tore without ceasing, and he nursed his wrath forever. 12 So I will send a fire upon Teman and it will devour the strongholds of Bozrah.
13 Thus says our Father: For three transgressions of the Ammonites, and for four, I will not turn it back, because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to enlarge their border. 14 So I will kindle a fire on the wall of Rabbah and it will devour her strongholds, with shouting on the day of battle, with a tempest on the day of the whirlwind. 15 And their king will go into exile, he and his officials together, says our Father.