The Lord’s Servant
1 Here is my servant!
I have made him strong.
He is my chosen one;
I am pleased with him.
I have given him my Spirit,
and he will bring justice
to the nations.
2 He won’t shout or yell
or call out in the streets.
3 He won’t break off a bent reed
or put out a dying flame,
but he will make sure
that justice is done.
4 He won’t quit or give up
until he brings justice
everywhere on earth,
and people in foreign nations
long for his teaching.
5 I am the Lord God.
I created the heavens
like an open tent above.
I made the earth and everything
that grows on it.
I am the source of life
for all who live on this earth,
so listen to what I say.
6 I chose you to bring justice,
and I am here at your side.
I selected and sent you
to bring light
and my promise of hope
to the nations.
7 You will give sight
to the blind;
you will set prisoners free
from dark dungeons.
8 My name is the Lord!
I won’t let idols or humans
share my glory and praise.
9 Everything has happened
just as I said it would;
now I will announce
what will happen next.
10 Tell the whole world to sing
a new song
to the Lord!
Tell those who sail the ocean
and those who live far away
to join
in the praise.
11 Tell the tribes of the desert
and everyone in the mountains
to celebrate
and sing.
12 Let them announce
his praises
everywhere.
13 The Lord is marching out
like an
angry soldier,
shouting with all his might
while attacking
his enemies.
The Lord Will Help His People
14 For a long time, I, the Lord,
have held
my temper;
now I will scream and groan
like a woman
giving birth.
15 I will destroy the mountains
and what
grows on them;
I will dry up rivers and ponds.
16 I will lead the blind on roads
they have
never known;
I will guide them on paths
they have
never traveled.
Their road is dark and rough,
but I will
give light
to keep them from stumbling.
This is
my solemn promise.
17 Everyone who worships idols
as though they were gods
will be
terribly ashamed.
God’s People Won’t Obey
18 You people are deaf and blind,
but the Lord commands you
to listen
and to see.
19 No one is as blind or deaf
as his messenger,
his chosen
servant,
20 who sees and hears so much,
but pays
no attention.
21 The Lord always does right,
and so he wanted his Law
to be greatly
praised.
22 But his people were trapped
and imprisoned in holes
with no
one to rescue them.
All they owned had been taken,
and no one was willing
to give
it back.
23 Why won’t his people
ever learn
to listen?
24 Israel sinned and refused
to obey the Lord
or follow
his instructions.
So the Lord let them be robbed
of everything
they owned.
25 He was furious with them
and punished their nation
with the
fires of war.
Still they paid no attention.
They didn’t
even care
when they were surrounded
and scorched
by flames.
The Contemporary English Version c1995 by the American Bible Society.
Selected texts provided for use with the Amos: Hypertext Bible Commentary