St. Irenaeus

Am 3: 1-8; 4:11-12

Hear this word, O children of Israel, that the LORD pronounces over you,over the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt:

         You alone have I favored,

                 more than all the families of the earth;

         Therefore I will punish you

                     for all your crimes.

         Do two walk together

                     unless they have agreed?

         Does a lion roar in the forest

                     when it has no prey?

         Does a young lion cry out from its den

                     unless it has seized something?

         Is a bird brought to earth by a snare

                     when there is no lure for it?

         Does a snare spring up from the ground

                     without catching anything?

         If the trumpet sounds in a city,

                     will the people not be frightened?

         If evil befalls a city,

                     has not the LORD caused it?

         Indeed, the Lord GOD does nothing

                     without revealing his plan

                     to his servants, the prophets.

         The lion roars—

                     who will not be afraid!

         The Lord GOD speaks—

                     who will not prophesy!

         I brought upon you such upheaval

                     as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah:

                     you were like a brand plucked from the fire;

         Yet you returned not to me,

                     says the LORD.

         So now I will deal with you in my own way, O Israel!

                     and since I will deal thus with you,

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.