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1 Thus sayth the Lord, For three transgressions of Moab, and for foure, I wil not turne away the punishment thereof, because hee burnt the bones of the King of Edom into lime.

2 But I will send a fire vpon Moab, and it shall deuoure the palaces of Kerioth, and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet:

3 And I will cut off the iudge from the middest thereof, and wil slay all the princes thereof with him, sayeth the Lord.

4 ¶ Thus sayth the Lord, For three transgressions of Iudah, and for foure, I will not turne away the punishment thereof; because they haue despised the Law of the Lord, and haue not kept his Commandements, and their lies caused them to erre, after the which their fathers haue walked.

5 But I will send a fire vpon Iudah, and it shall deuoure the palaces of Ierusalem.

6 ¶ Thus sayth the Lord, For three transgressions of Israel, and for foure, I will not turne away the punishment thereof; because they solde the righteous for siluer, and the poore for a paire of shooes:

7 That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poore, and turne aside the way of the meeke; and a man and his father will goe in vnto the same maid, to profane my holy Name.

8 And they lay themselues downe vpon clothes laide to pledge, by euery Altar, and they drinke the wine of the condemned in the house of their God.

9 ¶ Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the Cedars, and hee was strong as the okes, yet I destroyed his fruite from aboue, and his rootes from beneath.

10 Also I brought you vp from the land of Egypt, and ledde you fourtie yeeres through the wildernesse, to possesse the land of the Amorite.

11 And I raised vp of your sonnes for Prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not euen thus, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord ?

12 But ye gaue the Nazarites wine to drinke, and commaunded the Prophets, saying, Prophecie not.

13 Behold, I am pressed vnder you, as a cart is pressed that is ful of sheaues.

14 Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mightie deliuer himselfe:

15 Neither shall hee stand that handleth the bow, and hee that is swift of foote, shall not deliuer himselfe, neither shall hee that rideth the horse, deliuer himselfe.

16 And hee that is couragious among the mighty, shall flee away naked in that day, saith the Lord.

Viewing the original 1611 KJV with archaic English spelling
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Commentary for Amos 2

Judgments against Moab and Judah. (1-8) The ingratitude and ruin of Israel. (9-16)1-8 The evil passions of the heart break out in various forms; but the Lord looks to our motives, as well as our conduct. Those that deal cruelly, shall be cruelly dealt with. Other nations were reckoned with for injuries done to men; Judah is reckoned with for dishonour done to God. Judah despised the law of the Lord; and he justly gave them up to strong delusion; nor was it any excuse for their sin, that they were the lies, the idols, after which their fathers walked. The worst abominations and most grievous oppressions have been committed by some of the professed worshippers of the Lord. Such conduct leads many to unbelief and vile idolatry.

9-16 We need often to be reminded of the mercies we have received; which add much to the evil of the sins we have committed. They had helps for their souls, which taught them how to make good use of their earthly enjoyments, and were therefore more valuable. Faithful ministers are great blessings to any people; but it is God that raises them up to be so. Sinners' own consciences will witness that he has not been wanting to them in the means of grace. They did what they could to lead believers aside. Satan and his agents are busy to corrupt the minds of young people who look heavenward; they overcome many by drawing them to the love of mirth and pleasure, and into drinking company. Multitudes of young men who bade fair as professors of religion, have erred through strong drink, and have been undone for ever. The Lord complains of sin, especially the sins of his professing people, as a burden to him. And though his long-suffering be tired, his power is not, and so the sinner will find to his cost. When men reject God's word, adding obstinacy to sin, and this becomes the general character of a people, they will be given up to misery, notwithstanding all their boasted power and resources. May we then humble ourselves before the Lord, for all our ingratitude and unfaithfulness.

Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.

Discussion for Amos 2

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