Study Desk

My God, listen to me! Open your eyes and see all the terrible things that have happened to us. See what has happened to the city that is called by your name. I am not saying we are good people. That is not why I am asking these things. I am asking these things because I know you are kind.

Then the one who looked like a man touched my lips. I opened my mouth and started to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, "Sir, I am upset and afraid because of what I saw in the vision. I feel helpless.

Sir, I am Daniel your servant. How can I talk with you? My strength is gone and it is hard for me to breathe."

Then the Lord said, "Name him Lo-Ammi, because you are not my people, and I am not your God."

"Argue with your mother. Argue with her because she is no longer my wife, and I am no longer her husband! Tell her to stop being like a prostitute. Tell her to take away her lovers from between her breasts.

He has refused your calf, Samaria. God says, ‘I am very angry with the Israelites.' The people of Israel will be punished for their sin. Some worker made those statues. They are not God. Samaria's calf will be broken into pieces.

"Ephraim, I don't want to give you up. Israel, I want to protect you. I don't want to make you like Admah. I don't want to make you like Zeboiim. I am changing my mind. My love for you is too strong.

I will not let my terrible anger win. I will not destroy Ephraim again. I am God and not a human. I am the Holy One. I am with you. I will not show my anger.

Ephraim said, ‘I am rich! I have found true riches! No one will learn about my crimes. No one will learn about my sins.'

"But I am still the Lord your God, as I was when you left the land of Egypt. I will make you live in tents, as you do during the Festival of Shelters.

"I have been the Lord your God since the time you were in the land of Egypt. You did not know any other god except me. I am the one who saved you.

"I will save them from the grave. I will rescue them from death. Death, where are your diseases? Grave, where is your power? I am not looking for revenge.

"Ephraim, I will have nothing more to do with idols. I am the one who answers your prayers and watches over you. I am like a fir tree that is always green. Your fruit comes from me."

Lord , I am calling to you for help. Fire has changed our green fields into a desert. Flames have burned all the trees in the field.

You will know that I am with Israel. You will know that I am the Lord your God. There is no other God. My people will never be ashamed again."

Beat your plows into swords. Make spears from your pruning hooks. Let the weak man say, "I am a strong soldier."

"Then you will know that I am the Lord your God. I live on Zion, my holy mountain. Jerusalem will become holy. Strangers will never pass through that city again.

You have become more than I can bear. I am bent low like a wagon loaded with grain.

Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I am not a professional prophet, and I am not from a prophet's family. I raise cattle and take care of sycamore trees.

I am giving the command to scatter the people of Israel among all nations. But it will be like someone sifting flour. A person shakes flour through a sifter. The good flour falls through, but the bad lumps are caught.