Amos 4

1Listen to this message, women of Sameria, you well-fed cows of Bashan, who oppress the poor and crush the needy, who say to your husbands, “Bring us another drink!” 2The Lord Godhas sworn by his holiness: The time is coming when you will be carried away in baskets, your children carried away in fish-baskets, 3and through the breaches in the city wall you will go, thrown out on the garbage dump, says the . Lord 4Come to Bethel and transgress, at Gilgald increase your transgression. your sacrifices in the morning, every third day your tithes! 5Burn some leavened bread as a thank-offering, proclaim aloud your voluntary offerings, for you love to do this, Israelites! says the Lord . God 6But it was I who gave to you in all your cities, and lack of bread in all your towns, yet you have not returned to me, says the . Lord 7It was I who withheld from you the rain, rain on one city, while on another I allowed no rain. One field received rain, while a field without rain withered. 8People from two or three cities as far as another city for drinking water, and still they did not have enough, yet you did not return to me, says the . Lord 9I struck you with blight and mildew, I laid waste your gardens and vineyards. The swarming locust devoured your fig and your olive trees, yet you did not return to me, says the . Lord 10I sent plague among you like the plagues of Egypt, I slew your youths with the sword, your horses raided away, I caused the stench of your camps to rise in your nostrils, yet you did not return to me, says the . Lord 11I wrought a destruction among you, as God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a stick snatched from the fire, yet you did not return to me, says the . Lord 12Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I am about to do this to you, prepare to meet your God, Israel.