Amos 2

1 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “For three [a quantity of] transgressions [rebellions, sins] of Moab, even four [a complete set], I will not revoke [turn away, cancel] My judgment, because he burned [set on fire, kindled flames] to lime [a building material, calcium oxide] the bones [the skeletal remains, the essence] of Edom’s king [the ruler, the monarch]. word study 2 So I will send [dispatch, commission] fire [burning, flame] against Moab [the land and descendants of Lot’s son] to consume [devour, utterly destroy] the citadels [strongholds, fortresses] of Kerioth [a city in Moab, also known as Kiriathaim]. Moab will die [perish, come to an end] in tumult [uproar, chaos], amid [in the midst of] war cries [shouting, battle cries] and the sound [voice, noise] of the ram’s horn [a trumpet, a signal of importance]. word study 3 I will cut off [destroy, eliminate] the ruler [judge, leader] of Moab and kill [slay, destroy] all [every one, everything] the officials [princes, captains] with him [together, as one],” says [declares, speaks] the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]. word study 4 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “For three transgressions [rebellions, revolts] of Judah, even four, I will not revoke [turn away, cancel] My judgment, because they reject [spurn, despise] the Law [instruction, teachings] of the LORD and fail to keep [obey, guard] His statutes [decrees, commandments]; they are led astray [caused to err, wander] by the lies [falsehoods, idols] in which their fathers [ancestors, forefathers] walked [lived, followed]. word study 5 So I will send [dispatch, cause to go] fire [burning, flame] upon Judah [the tribe and region] to consume [eat, devour] the citadels [high palaces, fortresses] of Jerusalem [the city of peace, capital of the kingdom].” word study 6 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “For three [on three occasions, thrice] transgressions [rebellions, revolts] of Israel, even four [four times, repeatedly], I will not revoke [turn away, reverse] My judgment, because they sell [exchange, trade] the righteous [just, upright] for silver [money, payment] and the needy [poor, oppressed] for a pair of sandals [shoes]. word study 7 They trample [crush, oppress] on the heads [the topmost part of the body] of the poor [weak, needy] as on the dust [dry earth, clay] of the earth [land, ground]; they push [turn aside, deflect] the needy [meek, humble] out of their way [path, journey]. A man [male, individual] and his father [parent, ancestor] have relations [go in to, intimate connection] with the same girl [maiden, young woman] and so profane [desecrate, violate] My holy [sacred, set-apart] name [identity, reputation]. word study 8 They lie down [stretch themselves out] beside every altar [place of sacrifice] on garments [clothing] taken in pledge [as collateral, in trust]. And in the house [dwelling place, temple] of their God [Elohim, the one supreme God], they drink [consume, indulge in] wine [fermented drink, intoxicating beverage] obtained through fines [as a penalty, from those who have been punished]. word study 9 Yet it was I [the Lord] who destroyed [annihilated, desolated] the Amorite [a Canaanite tribe, descended from Canaan] before them, though his height [loftiness, stature] was like that of the cedars [strong and majestic trees], and he was as strong [powerful, mighty] as the oaks. Yet I destroyed [cut off, eradicated] his fruit [the product of his labor, his offspring] above [from the top, in his prosperity] and his roots [the source of his strength, his foundation] below [from the bottom, in his entirety]. word study 10 And I [the Lord, personally] brought you up from the land [territory, region] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] and led you [guided, directed] forty [a significant period of time] years in the wilderness [desert, uninhabited land], that you might take possession [occupy, inherit] of the land [soil, ground] of the Amorite [a Canaanite tribe, descendant of Canaan]. word study 11 I raised up [from among, appointed] prophets [speakers for God, messengers] from your sons [descendants, children] and Nazirites [consecrated ones, devoted to God] from your young men [chosen ones, youth]. Is this [thing, matter] not true [certain, faithful], O children [sons, descendants] of Israel [God’s people, Jacob’s descendants]?” declares [says, utters] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 12 “But you made the Nazirites [those consecrated to God, devoted ones] drink wine [fermented wine] and commanded [gave orders to, appointed] the prophets [speakers for God, messengers] not to prophesy [to speak or sing under the divine spirit, to foretell]. word study 13 Behold [look, see], I am about to crush [press, oppress] you in your place [position, location] as with a cart [wagon, vehicle] full of grain [sheaves, harvest]. word study 14 Escape [will perish, fail to save] will fail the swift [quick-footed, fast runners], the strong [powerful, valiant] will not prevail by his strength [power, might], and the mighty [mighty man, warrior] will not save [deliver, escape] his life [soul, living being]. word study 15 The archer [handler of the bow, one who wields the weapon] will not stand [remain firm, maintain position] his ground, the fleet [swift, quick] of foot will not escape [deliver himself, slip away to safety], and the horseman [rider of the horse, one who mounts a chariot] will not save [deliver, preserve] his life [soul, living being]. word study 16 Even the bravest [most courageous, stout of heart] of mighty men [strong warriors, valiant ones] will flee [run away, take flight] naked [without clothing, exposed] on that day [at that time, in that moment],” declares [says, utters an oracle] the LORD [Yehovah]. word study