I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel/I will bring my people back to their land. The Hebrew is not clear. Most scholars take it to mean something like “reverse the fortunes of,” as in Revised Standard Version (also Smith-Goodspeed, New English Bible); or “I will bring about the restoration of my people Israel” (New American Bible, The Translator’s Old Testament). Good News Translation translates the same meaning more directly: I will bring my people back to their land. Some translations may have to say “you” or “you, my people.”

And they shall rebuild … and drink their wine/They will rebuild … and drink the wine. This is the reversal of the punishment predicted in 5.11. However, 9.14 has the addition and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit/they will plant gardens and eat what they grow.

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 .