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12 This is what the Lord says:

“A shepherd might save from a lion’s mouth
    only two leg bones or a scrap of an ear of his sheep.
In the same way only a few Israelites in Samaria will be saved—
    ·people who now sit on their beds
    and on their couches [or only a corner of a bed or a part of a couch will be saved].”

13 “Listen and ·be witnesses [testify] against the family of Jacob [C Israel],” says the Lord God, the God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts].

14 “·When [L On the day] I punish Israel for their sins,
    I will also destroy the altars at Bethel [C an important worship center in Israel; 1 Kin. 12:25–33].
The ·corners [L horns] of the altar will be cut off,
    and they will fall to the ground.

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12 This is what the Lord says:

“As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s(A) mouth
    only two leg bones or a piece of an ear,
so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued,
    with only the head of a bed
    and a piece of fabric[a] from a couch.[b](B)

13 “Hear this and testify(C) against the descendants of Jacob,” declares the Lord, the Lord God Almighty.

14 “On the day I punish(D) Israel for her sins,
    I will destroy the altars of Bethel;(E)
the horns(F) of the altar will be cut off
    and fall to the ground.

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Footnotes

  1. Amos 3:12 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  2. Amos 3:12 Or Israelites be rescued, / those who sit in Samaria / on the edge of their beds / and in Damascus on their couches.