I saw the LORD standing beside the altar/I saw the LORD standing by the altar.

Altar. See 3.14. The actual position is either by the altar (also New English Bible, The Translator’s Old Testament), beside the altar (also New American Bible), or “upon the altar” (Smith-Goodspeed). Most probably the Hebrew means by or in front of the altar, and suggests at the same time that the LORD was a very large figure. In a higher level of English than Good News Translation this could be translated “towering above the altar” or “looming over the altar.” If it is hard to combine location and height in the translation without using a longer expression, it would be possible to say that the LORD stood by or “in front of” the altar and not express the other meaning.

The content of the vision may be enough to indicate that no ordinary seeing is meant, but in some cases it is necessary to say “I saw the LORD in a vision, and he stood…”

And he said/He gave the command. It is impossible to know to whom the LORD is speaking. Good News Translation translates he gave the command, because commands follow, but in many languages it is necessary to say to whom a command is given. In some cases the reader may think that Amos is the one to whom the LORD is speaking, which is not likely.

Capitals refers to a round decoration at the tops of the pillars of the temple. Good News Translation avoids the technical term capitals (Revised Standard Version, Smith-Goodspeed, New English Bible) and speaks of the tops of the … columns (compare also The Translator’s Old Testament: “the top of the pillars” and Moffatt). In addition Good News Translation makes clear that these columns belong to a temple, which may be wise in other translations also, especially in cultures where altars are not normally found in places of worship.

Temple. See 7.9, 13.

Columns. Where buildings are supported by posts of some kind the translator should say something like: “Strike the center post of the temple….” If buildings supported by columns or posts are not known, then it may be necessary to say “Strike the roof beams” in order to be able to continue with the rest of the saying below.

Until the thresholds shake/so hard that the foundation will shake. In Hebrew it is clear that something shakes under the blow, but translations usually differ considerably as to what is shaken: thresholds (Revised Standard Version, Smith-Goodspeed), “lintels” (The Translator’s Old Testament) or “doorjambs” (New American Bible), “ceiling” (Moffatt) or “the whole porch” (New English Bible) or foundation. The meaning is probably either the foundations or the roof structure. However, the picture is of the whole building shaking from the roof to the foundation until it collapses. This is what must be made clear, with the particular choice of wording depending on the translation of what follows.

And shatter them on the heads of all the people (Hebrew: all of them)/Break them off and let them fall on the heads of the people. The Hebrew is not at all clear in its details, but the overall picture of the building falling on the people inside can be seen and should be made clear in translation. In many cases it will be impossible to break something off on the head of somebody and Good News Translation gives a good solution and let them fall on the heads of … (so also The Translator’s Old Testament).

The people are these present in the temple, and it may be necessary to say “of all who are there” (The Translator’s Old Testament) or even “of all the worshippers” (Moffatt).

And what are left of them I will slay with the sword/I will kill the rest of the people in war. See 4.10.

Not one of them shall flee away, not one of them shall escape/No one will get away; not one will escape. The only possible problem here is the repetition. In some languages it may be better to say it only once, but there is strong emotional force in the repetition, and this force should be carried over in the translation.

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 .