Then, the Word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

Then I said, Alas, Lord Jehovah! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am a youth.

Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you, says Jehovah.

Behold, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

Then I said, I will not make mention of Him, nor speak in His name any more. But His Word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with holding it in, and I could not.

So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of Jehovah was strong upon me.

Now it came to pass at the end of seven days that the Word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

When I say to the wicked, You shall die the death, and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.

So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear the Word from My mouth and warn them from Me.

Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.

Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, I was not a prophet, nor was I the son of a prophet, but I was a herdsman and one gathering sycamore fruit.

And Jehovah took me from following the flock, and Jehovah said to me, Go, prophesy to My people Israel.

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

My stomach, my stomach! I am convulsed to my heart! My heart groans within me; I cannot be silent because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the shofar, the alarm of war.

Destruction upon destruction is proclaimed; for the whole land is devastated. Suddenly my tents are destroyed, my curtains in a moment.

Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

But if you will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and my eye shall weep and cry and run down with tears, because Jehovah's flock is taken captive.

Therefore you shall speak this word to them: Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and do not let them cease. For the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great break, with a sickening blow.

Have You utterly rejected Judah? Has Your soul loathed Zion? Why have You stricken us such that there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, but no good came; and for the time of healing, and behold, terror!

Do not abhor us; for Your name's sake do not disgrace the throne of Your glory; remember, do not break Your covenant with us.

Should evil be repaid for good? For they have dug a pit for my life. Remember that I stood before You to speak good for them, to turn away Your wrath from them.

I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit,

For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ on behalf of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,

how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,

For I have not shrunk back from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

For our rejoicing is this: the testimony of our conscience, that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.

For we are not, as so many, peddling the Word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ, in the sight of God.