Introduction to Amos (Pioneer Bible Translators)

(Pioneer Bible Translators and The Word for the World use the following introduction in many of their translation projects around the world.)

This book contains the prophetic messages of Amos. Amos was a shepherd (1:1) and a farmer (7:14). Then God called him to be his prophet. Amos was from the town of Tekoa which was in the southern kingdom of Judah, but most of his messages were intended for the northern kingdom of Israel. Amos spoke prophesies when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam II was king of Israel. This was around 750 B.C.

Amos prophesied judgment against many nations in the first two chapters, but most of his messages were for Israel. It was a period of prosperity for Israel. During that prosperity they forgot about God and treated the poor badly (2:6). God’s judgement for them was to be taken into captivity (7:17). Still God promised that he would help the people of Israel to conquer again all the other countries which they ruled in the past (9:12).

Outline:

1. In the first verse, Amos introduces himself.
2. Then, in the rest of chapters 1 and 2, he pronounces judgment on several nations.
3. Chapters 3-9:11 talk about judgement and captivity for Israel.
4. Finally, in chapter 9:12-15, God promises to bring back the remaining believers to Israel.

This work is owned by Pioneer Bible Translators International and The World for the World International and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License .

Translation: French

Introduction à Amos

Ce livre contient les messages prophétiques d’Amos. Amos était berger (1.1) et cultivateur (7.14). Puis Dieu l’a appelé pour être son prophète. Amos venait de la ville de Tekoa qui se trouvait dans le royaume du sud de Juda, mais la plupart de ses messages étaient destinés au royaume du nord d’Israël. Amos a fait les prophéties quand Osias était roi de Juda et Jéroboam était roi d’Israël. C’était vers 750 av. J.-C.

Dans les deux premiers chapitres, Amos a prophétisé le jugement contre plusieurs nations, mais la plupart de ses messages étaient destinés à Israël. C’était une période de prospérité pour Israël. Pendant ce temps de prospérité ils ont oublié Dieu et ont maltraité les pauvres (2.6). Le jugement de Dieu était qu’ils devaient être emmenés en captivité (7.17). Quand même, Dieu a promis qu’il aiderait le peuple d’Israël à reconquérir tous les autres pays qu’ils avaient gouvernés au passé (9.12).

Résumé d’Amos

1. Dans le premier verset, Amos se présente.
2. Puis, dans le reste des chapitres 1 et 2, il prononce un jugement sur plusieurs nations.
3. Les chapitres 3 à 9.10 parlent de jugement et de captivité pour Israël.
4. Enfin, au chapitre 9.11-15, Dieu promet de ramener en Israël les croyants restants.

Translation: Swahili

Utangulizi kwa Amosi

Kitabu hiki kina ujumbe wa unabii wa Amosi. Amosi alikuwa mchungaji (1: 1) na mkulima (7:14). Ndipo Mungu akamwita kuwa nabii wake. Amosi alitoka mji wa Tekoa ambao ulikuwa katika ufalme wa kusini wa Yuda, lakini ujumbe wake mwingi ulikuwa umekusudiwa ufalme wa kaskazini wa Israeli. Amosi alisema unabii wakati Uzia alikuwa mfalme wa Yuda na Yeroboamu II alikuwa mfalme wa Israeli. Hii ilikuwa karibu 750 K.K.(kabla ya kristo).

Amosi alitabiri hukumu dhidi ya mataifa mengi katika sura mbili za kwanza, lakini ujumbe wake mwingi ulikuwa kwa Israeli. Kilikuwa kipindi cha mafanikio kwa Israeli. Wakati wa mafanikio hayo walisahau kuhusu Mungu na kuwatendea maskini vibaya (2: 6). Hukumu ya Mungu kwao ilikuwa ichukuliwe utumwani (7:17). Bado Mungu aliahidi kwamba atawasaidia watu wa Israeli kushinda tena nchi nyingine zote ambazo walitawala huko nyuma (9:12).

Muhtasari:

1. Katika aya ya kwanza, Amosi anajitambulisha.
2. Halafu, katika sura nyingine ya 1 na 2, anatangaza hukumu kwa mataifa kadhaa.
3. Sura ya 3-9: 11 inazungumzia juu ya hukumu na utekwaji kwa Israeli.
4. Mwishowe, katika sura ya 9: 12-15, Mungu anaahidi kuwarudisha waumini waliobaki kwa Israeli.

Introduction to Amos (Christian Community Bible)

(The Catholic Christian Community Bible [first English edition 1997, other translations into Indonesian, Chinese, Cebuano, Chavacano, French, Ilonggo, Korean, Quechuan, Spanish, and Tagalog] “for the Christian Communities of the Third World” uses the following introduction.)

Towards the middle of the eighth century before Christ, the kingdom of Israel was rich and prosperous. Small properties were disappearing and wealth was in the hands of a few rich people, while the poor increased in number. The luxury of the few was an insult to the destitute.

Unexpectedly, Yahweh roars from Zion. His voice thunders from Jerusalem through Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa, a little village located about nine kilometers south of Bethlehem, in the land of Judah.

God takes him from his flock and sends him to the neighboring land, to Israel in the north. So the prophet traveled through the cities of Israel, denouncing the social injustices and a religion which was satisfied with external practices only. He warned of God’s punishment and the deportation of Israel, and in the end, he predicted happy days.

Amos is the prophet of social justice. He reveals to us a God who defends the rights of the poor

Down below are the introductions in the Mandarin Chinese, Tagalog, Cebuano, and Spanish editions.

Translation: Mandarin Chinese

公元前八世纪中叶，以色列王国似乎相当富庶繁荣。小康之家渐渐消失，财富集中在少数人手中，而穷人的数目也随之增加。少数人的奢华生活，对于穷无立锥之地的民众无异是一种侮辱。

但是雅威在熙雍怒吼，从耶路撒冷传来祂的震怒声。

亚毛斯是特科亚的一位牧人。科特亚这个小村庄位于犹大国内白冷以南约九公里处。天主将他从牧羊人中选出来，派遣他到邻近的地方，也就是北边的以色列。因此，先知开始走遍以色列的各个城市，斥责社会的不公以及只注重外在仪式的宗教。

他宣告天主的惩罚，以色列的流放，最后也预言了快乐的日子。亚毛斯是社会正义的先知，他启示给我们的是：维护穷人权益的天主。

Translation: Tagalog

Sa bandang gitna ng ikawalong dantaon bago kay Kristo, waring mayaman at napakasagana ng kaharian ng Israel. Nagsimulang mangawala ang maliliit na mga ari-arian at nasa kamay lamang ng ilang mayayaman ang kayamanan, habang parami naman nang parami ang mga dukha. Insulto sa pagdarahop ng mga dukha ang luho ng iilan.

Di inaasaha’y sumisigaw si Yawe mula sa Sion, dumadagundong ang kanyang tinig mula sa Jerusalem sa pamamagitan ni Amos na katutubong pastol na taga-Tekoa, maliit na nayong mga siyam na kilometro sa timog ng Betlehem sa lupain ng Juda.

Kinuha siya ng Diyos mula sa kanyang kawan at ipinadala sa karatig na lupain, ang Israel sa hilaga. Kayat sinimulan ng propeta ang paglilibot sa mga siyudad sa kaharian ng Israel, at mahigpit na tinutuligsa ang mga panlipunang pang-aapi at ang relihiyong kuntento na sa mga panlabas na seremonya lamang. Ibinabalita niya ang parusa ng Diyos at ang pagkatapon ng Israel, at sa dakong huli’y inihuhula niya ang masasayang araw.

Si Amos ang propeta ng katarungang panlipunan. Isang Diyos na nagtatanggol sa karapatan ng mga pobre ang ipinakikilala niya sa atin.

Translation: Cebuano

Padulong sa tungatunga ug ikawalong siglo sa wala pa si Cristo, ang gingharian sa Israel daw adunahan ug mauswagon kaayo. Ang mga gagmayng propeta nangawala ug ang bahandi naa sa kamot sa pipila ka adunahang tawo, samtang nagkadaghan ang kabos. Ang kaharuhay sa pipila insulto sa naalaot nga kabos.

Sa wala damha, si Yahweh nagdahunog gikan sa Sion, ang iyang tingog midalugdog gikan sa Jerusalem pinaagi kang Amos, usa ka magbalantay sa karnero gikan sa Tekoa, ang gamayng balangay nga may gilay-ong mga 9 ka kilometro sa habagatang bahin sa Betlehem, sa yuta sa Juda.

Ang Ginoo “nagkuha niya gikan sa panon” ug nagpadala niya sa silingang yuta, sa Israel, sa amihanan. Busa, ang propeta nagsugod pagsuroy sa mga syudad sa Israel, nanghimaraot sa mga inhustisya sa katilingban ug sa relihiyon nga kontento lang sa panggawas nga mga buhat. Iyang gibalita ang silot sa Ginoo sa pagpalagpot sa Israel, sa kataposan, nagtagna sab siya og mga malipayong adlaw.

Si Amos propeta sa hustisya sa katilingban. Gipadayag niya diha nato ang Diyos nga nanalipod sa mga katungod sa kabos.

Translation: Spanish

Hacia la mitad del siglo VIII antes de Cristo, el Reino de Israel aparece rico y muy próspero. La pequeña propiedad ha ido despareciendo y las riquezas se concentran en unos pocos ricos, mientras por otra parte crece el proletariado; el lujo de unos pocos insulta la miseria de los pobres.

Inesperadamente, el Eterno ruge desde Sión y de Jerusalén hace oír su voz por medio de Amós, pastor natural de Tecoá, pueblecito situado a unos nueve kilómetros al sur de Belén, en el país de Judá. Dios lo saca «de detrás de su rebaño» y lo envía hacia el país vecino, Israel del Norte.

El profeta comienza entonces a recorrer las ciudades del Reino de Israel, denunciando las injusticias sociales y la religión que se contenta sólo de ritos externos. Anuncia el castigo de Dios y el destierro de Israel poco antes de que Oseas proclame el mismo mensaje; al fin predice también tiempos felices.

Amós es el profeta de la justicia social; nos revela a un Dios que defiende el derecho de los pobres.