He who made the Pleiades and Orion/The LORD made the stars, the Pleiades and Orion. If a language does not have names for the Pleiades and Orion, they will have to be described as stars or “constellations.” Another possibility is “the stars of springtime and autumn,” or “stars of autumn and springtime,” which is the Hebrew order since the setting of the Pleiades introduces the winter and Orion is associated with the summer. The theme of change makes it probable that a change of season is implied. However, such a translation will not work where languages have no equivalent for “autumn” and “spring.”

And turns deep darkness into the morning, and darkens the day into night/He turns darkness into daylight, and day into night. See 4.13.

Who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out upon the surface of the earth/He calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the earth. In many languages it is not possible to call the sea. The translator might say something like “He draws/gathers/sends for the waters of the sea” (see The Translator’s Old Testament) or “He takes the water from the sea and pours it out over the earth.”

The LORD is his name/His name is the LORD. For the significance of this expression, see 4.13. The problem here is where to put it for the modern reader so that the translation will make its importance clear without being confusing. One possibility is to put it at the end of verse 9. However, if that is done, it should be made prominent through the wording: “The LORD is the one who does it!” or “It is the LORD himself who does this!” A second possibility is to put it at the beginning of verse 8. The Translator’s Old Testament does this but does not make it prominent enough: “It is the LORD who made….” “The LORD!” could be put both at the beginning and at the end as an exclamation. This keeps a balanced organization, but in a different way from the Hebrew, and makes the expression prominent in the passage.

Who makes destruction flash forth against the strong, so that destruction comes upon the fortress/He brings destruction on the mighty and their strongholds. In simple language a restructured translation may run as follows: “He strikes down the strong (people) and destroys their forts.” The picture is a punishment by destruction, as in so much of Amos. The translator can use picture language that comes from lightning or flood if it is suitable.

On fortress, see the discussion of another Hebrew word with similar meaning in 1.4.

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 .