Amos 4

1 Hear [listen attentively, obey] this word, you cows [heifers, young female cows] of Bashan [a fertile region, known for its fruitful land] on Mount Samaria [a watch mountain, the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel], you women who oppress [press upon, defraud] the poor [those in need, weak] and crush [break, bruise] the needy [those who are oppressed, in need of help], who say [speak, command] to your husbands [lords, masters], “Bring [come, approach] us more to drink [to feast, indulge].” word study 2 The Lord [Adonay, a title of reverence] GOD [Yehovah] has sworn [taken an oath, made a vow] by His holiness [set-apart nature, sacred character]: “Behold [look, take notice], the days [a period of time, an era] are coming [approaching, drawing near] when you will be taken away [lifted up, removed] with hooks [thorns, fishing hooks], and your posterity [descendants, offspring] with fishhooks [a tool for catching, a means of capture]. word study 3 You will go out [at the breaches] through broken walls, each one straight ahead of her [one over against the other, in a straight line], and you will be cast out [thrown, tossed away] toward [in the direction of] Harmon [a high fortress, a palace],” declares [says, utters] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 4 “Go to Bethel [house of God, a sacred place] and transgress [break away from authority]; rebel even more [multiply transgression, increase sin] at Gilgal [a place of rolling or wheel, a region in Palestine]! Bring your sacrifices [offerings to God, acts of worship] every morning [at the break of day, a time of new beginnings], your tithes [a tenth part, a payment of one’s income] every three [thrice] days. word study 5 Offer leavened bread [with yeast] as a thank offering [a sacrifice of praise, an expression of gratitude], and loudly proclaim [publish and declare] your freewill offerings [voluntary gifts, spontaneous acts of worship]. For that is what you children [sons, descendants] of Israel [God’s chosen people] love to do [have affection for, delight in],” declares the Lord [Adonay, the supreme ruler] GOD [Yehovah]. word study 6 “I beset all your cities [with famine, scarcity of food] with cleanness of teeth [emptiness, lack of nourishment] and all your towns [places, settlements] with lack [scarcity, want] of bread [food, sustenance], yet you did not return [turn back, come back] to Me,” declares the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God]. word study 7 “I [even] also withheld [held back, restrained] the rain [shower, downpour] from you when the harvest [time of reaping, gathering] was three [a period of completion, fulfillment] months away [still, yet to come]. I sent rain [caused it to rain, poured down] on one city [town, community] but withheld [did not send, restrained] it from another [a different, separate]. One field [portion, plot] received [was watered, nourished] rain; another [a different, separate] without [lacking, devoid of] rain [moisture, refreshment] withered [dried up, became barren]. word study 8 People [wandered] staggered from city [town, settlement] to city for water [liquid refreshment, spiritual nourishment] to drink, but they were not satisfied [filled, content]; yet you did not return [turn back, repent] to Me [the Lord],” declares the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 9 “I struck [with a burning wind, smote] you with blight [a destructive disease, blasting] and mildew [a type of paleness, yellowness] in your growing gardens [places of cultivation, vineyards] and vineyards [plots of land for vines and crops]; the locust [palmer-worm, a type of devouring insect] devoured your fig [a common food source] and olive trees [an olive berry], yet you did not return [turn back, repent] to Me,” declares [says, utters] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 10 “I sent [like those of Egypt, a severe plague] plagues among you like those of Egypt; I killed [slain with the sword, destroyed] your young men [chosen ones, select individuals] with the sword, along with your captured [taken away, seized] horses. I filled your nostrils [face, countenance] with the stench [strong and unpleasant smell, foul odor] of your camp [army, encampments], yet you did not return [turn back, come back] to Me,” declares the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 11 “Some of you I overthrew [like God overthrew, as when God overturned] as I overthrew Sodom [a city near the Dead Sea, known for its wickedness] and Gomorrah [a city in ancient Palestine, known for its wickedness], and you were like a firebrand [a burning stick] snatched from a blaze [a large fire, a burning], yet you did not return [to turn back, to come back] to Me [the Lord],” declares the LORD [the supreme God, Yehovah]. word study 12 “Therefore [in this manner, as a consequence], that is what I will do [bring about, accomplish] to you, O Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants], and since I will do [accomplish, bring about] this to you, prepare [establish, set your heart] to meet [encounter, come before] your God [Elohim, the one supreme God], O Israel! word study 13 For behold [look, see], He who forms [shapes, molds] the mountains [hills, elevations], who creates [brings into existence] the wind [a blast of air] and reveals [declares, makes known] His thoughts [mind, intentions] to man [humankind, Adam], who turns [makes, brings] the dawn [morning, daylight] to darkness [obscurity, shadow] and strides [treads, walks] on the heights [high places, elevations] of the earth [land, ground]— the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God], the God [Elohim, divine ruler] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces], is His name [identity, character].” word study