Amos 6

1 Woe [a cry of sorrow, a lamentation] to those at ease [living in comfort, resting securely] in Zion [the city of God, the mountain of Jerusalem] and those secure [feeling safe, trusting in] on Mount Samaria [the watch mountain, the capital of Israel], the distinguished ones [notable men, famous leaders] of the foremost nation [the chief of the nations, the most important people], to whom the house [the family, the dwelling place] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] comes. word study 2 Cross over [to the other side, transition] to Calneh [a city in the Assyrian empire] and see [look, observe, consider]; go from there [that place, thence] to the great [powerful, large] Hamath [Hamath-Rabbah, a town of great significance]; then go down [descend, fall] to Gath [a major city, a winepress] of the Philistines [immigrants from other places, a distinct people]. Are you better [more pleasant, superior] than these kingdoms [rulers’ powers, dominions]? Is their territory [border, boundary] larger [greater, more extensive] than yours [your land, your border]? word study 3 You dismiss [put far away, drive out] the day [a period of time, a season] of calamity [evil, adversity] and bring near [approach, draw close to] a reign [seat, throne] of violence [injustice, cruelty, chaos]. word study 4 You lie [rest, sleep, or have intimate relations] on beds inlaid with ivory [expensive, decorative material], and lounge [stretch out, be wanton] upon your couches [soft seats, beds]. You dine [eat, feast] on lambs [young, tender sheep] from the flock [a group of sheep or goats] and calves [young, nearly grown] from the stall [a place where animals are kept, a cattle-house]. word study 5 You improvise [make up, compose] songs [musical expressions, hymns] on the harp [lyre, stringed instrument] like David [the king, a skilled musician] and invent [devise, create] your own musical instruments [articles, tools for music] [like a skilled craftsman, with cleverness]. word study 6 You drink wine [fermented wine, intoxicating beverage] by the bowlful [in basins, large quantities] and anoint yourselves [rub oil on, set apart] with the finest oils [chief ointments, precious perfumes], but you fail [are not grieved, do not lament] to grieve over the ruin [affliction, destruction] of Joseph [Jehovah has added, the people of Israel]. word study 7 Therefore [so, thus, in agreement], you will now [at this time, currently] go into exile [be taken captive, led away] as the first [at the head, chief] of the captives [prisoners, those taken away], and your feasting [banquet, revelry] and lounging [stretching out, being at ease] will come to an end [be removed, pass away]. word study 8 The Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] has sworn [taken an oath, made a vow] by Himself [His own soul, His own life]—the LORD [Adonay, the Master], the God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces], has declared [uttered, spoken]: “I abhor [loathe, strongly dislike] Jacob’s [Israel’s] pride [arrogance, excellency] and detest [hate, despise] his citadels [palaces, strongholds], so I will deliver up [give over, surrender] the city [town, settlement] and everything [all its fullness, all its contents] in it.” word study 9 And if [it shall come to pass] there are ten men [male persons, individuals] left [remaining, still existing] in one [a single, united] house [dwelling place, family home], they too [also, in addition] will die [pass away, come to an end, perish]. word study 10 And when the relative [beloved, uncle] who is to burn [cremate, set on fire] the bodies picks them up to remove [to bring out, to carry away] them from the house, he will call to one inside, “Is anyone else [still, yet] with you?” “None [no one, none at all],” that person will answer. “Silence [be quiet, hold your tongue],” the relative will retort, “for the name [reputation, character] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] must not be invoked [spoken, mentioned].” word study 11 For [behold, look] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] gives a command [to appoint, to ordain]: “The great [large, majestic] house [dwelling place, family home] will be smashed [struck, hit] to pieces [fragments, drops], and the small [little, insignificant] house [dwelling place, family home] to rubble [breaches, clefts].” word study 12 “Do horses [swallow, a type of bird or a horse] gallop [run swiftly, rush] on the cliffs [craggy rocks, rugged terrain]? Does one plow [to break up the soil, to cultivate] the sea with oxen [cattle, domesticated animals]? But you have turned [overturned, transformed] justice [righteous judgment, moral integrity] into poison [a harmful substance, gall] and the fruit [the result, the outcome] of righteousness [moral virtue, godly living] into wormwood [a bitter plant]— word study 13 you who rejoice [in a thing of nought, at nothing] in Lo-debar and say [declare, speak], ‘Did we not [have we not] take [capture, get] Karnaim by our own [personal, inherent] strength [power, control]?’ word study 14 For behold [look, see], I will raise up [stir up, cause to stand] a nation [Gentile, non-Hebrew people] against you, O house [family, descendants] of Israel,” declares the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God], the God [Elohim, supreme deity] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces], “and they will oppress [afflict, treat cruelly] you from Lebo-hamath [the entrance of Hamath] to the Brook [stream, river] of the Arabah [wilderness, desert plain].” word study