10 Amaziah, a priest at Bethel, sent this message to Jeroboam king of Israel: “Amos is making evil plans against you with the people of Israel. He has been speaking so much that this land can’t hold all his words.
11 This is what Amos has said:‘Jeroboam will die by the sword,and the people of Israel will be taken as captivesout of their own country.’ ”
12 Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Seer, go back right now to Judah. Do your prophesying and earn your living there,
13 but don’t prophesy anymore here at Bethel. This is the king’s holy place, and it is the nation’s temple.”
14 Then Amos answered Amaziah, “I do not make my living as a prophet, nor am I a member of a group of prophets. I make my living as a shepherd, and I take care of sycamore trees.
15 But the Lord took me away from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’
16 So listen to the Lord’s word. You tell me,‘Don’t prophesy against Israel,and stop prophesying against the descendants of Isaac.’