The Basket of Ripe Fruit
1Thus hath the LordGODshewedunto me: and behold a basketof summer fruit.2And he said,Amos,what seestthou? And I said,A basketof summer fruit.Then saidthe LORDunto me, The endis comeupon my peopleof Israel;I will not againpassby them any more.3And the songsof the templeshall be howlingsin that day,saiththe LordGOD:[there shall be] manydead bodiesin every place;they shall cast [them] forthwith silence.
4Hearthis, O ye that swallow upthe needy,even to makethe poorof the landto fail,
5Saying,When will the new moonbe gone,that we may sellcorn?and the sabbath,that we may set forthwheat,making the ephahsmall,and the shekelgreat,and falsifyingthe balancesby deceit?
6That we may buythe poorfor silver,and the needyfor a pair of shoes;[yea], and sellthe refuseof the wheat?
7The LORDhath swornby the excellencyof Jacob,Surely I will neverforgetany of their works.
8Shall not the landtremblefor this, and every one mournthat dwelleththerein? and it shall rise upwholly as a flood;and it shall be cast outand drowned{08675;08248:08738}, as [by] the floodof Egypt.
9And it shall come to pass in that day,saiththe LordGOD,that I will cause the sunto go downat noon,and I will darkenthe earthin the clearday:
10And I will turnyour feastsinto mourning,and all your songsinto lamentation;and I will bring upsackclothupon all loins,and baldnessupon every head;and I will makeit as the mourningof an only[son], and the endthereof as a bitterday.
11Behold, the dayscome,saiththe LordGOD,that I will senda faminein the land,not a famineof bread,nor a thirstfor water,but of hearingthe wordsof the LORD:
12And they shall wanderfrom seato sea,and from the northeven to the east,they shall run to and froto seekthe wordof the LORD,and shall not find[it].
13In that dayshall the fairvirginsand young menfaintfor thirst.
14They that swearby the sinof Samaria,and say,Thy god,O Dan,liveth;and, The mannerof Beershebaliveth;even they shall fall,and never rise upagain.
