In Hebrew this verse consists of a question to which the answer should be “Yes.” In some cases the translation can make the first half of the verse a question and the second half a positive answer to the question, perhaps introduced by “Yes.” However, in many languages questions like shall not the land tremble are unusual or extremely difficult and should often be translated as direct statements, as in Good News Translation.

On this account (Hebrew: because of this)/And so. In Hebrew the connection between this verse and verse 7 is unusual and grammatically difficult. In this context this can best be taken as referring to all of 8.4-7. It may be best to translate “because of their evil deeds,” and so…, or “that is why…,” etc.

Shall not the land tremble/the earth will quake. See 1.1. The LORD causes this to happen, and some languages should say “I will make the earth quake…”

And all of it rise like the Nile (Hebrew: the river), and be tossed about and sink again, like the Nile of Egypt (Hebrew: river of Egypt)?/The whole country will be shaken; it will rise and fall like the Nile River. All of it refers back to land, and so, if a new sentence begins here, it may be necessary to say “All earth” (New English Bible) or The whole country. It may also be necessary to repeat: The whole country will be shaken, “The whole country will move,” etc. “The river” and “the river of Egypt” both refer to the Nile, and should sometimes be combined: it will rise and fall like the Nile River, “rising and falling like the Nile River,” etc. Be tossed about can be kept in the translation, as in most English translations, but it can also be left out (as in Moffatt) since it probably is an addition. The idea is already included in rise and fall.

Quoted with permission from de Waard, Jan & Smalley, William A. A Handbook on Amos. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1979. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .