1 The Lord God showed me a basket of ripe fruit
2 and asked, “Amos, what do you see?”“A basket of ripe fruit,” I replied.Then he said,“This is the endfor my people Israel.I won't forgive them again.
3 Instead of singingin the temple,they will cry and weep.Dead bodies will be everywhere.So keep silent!I, the Lord, have spoken!”
4 You people crush those in needand wipe out the poor.
5 You say to yourselves,“How much longer before the endof the New Moon Festival?When will the Sabbath be over?Our wheat is ready,and we want to sell it now.We can't wait to cheatand charge high pricesfor the grain we sell.We will use dishonest scales
6 and mix dust in the grain.Those who are needy and poordon't have any money.We will make them our slavesfor the priceof a pair of sandals.”
7 I, the Lord, won't forgetany of this,though you take great pridein your ancestor Jacob.
8 Your country will tremble,and you will mourn.It will be like the Nile Riverthat rises and overflows,then sinks back down.
9 On that day, I, the Lord God,will make the sungo down at noon,and I will turn daylightinto darkness.
10 Your festivals and joyful singingwill turn into sorrow.You will wear sackclothand shave your heads,as you would at the deathof your only son.It will be a horrible day.
11 I, the Lord, also promise youa terrible shortage,but not of food and water.You will hunger and thirstto hear my message.
12 You will search everywhere—from north to south,from east to west.You will go all over the earth,seeking a messagefrom me, the Lord.But you won't find one.
13 Your beautiful young womenand your young menwill faint from thirst.
14 You made promisesto the goddess Ashimahat Samaria;you made vows to other godsat the shrinesof Dan and Beersheba.So now you will falland never get up.