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J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

Amos 4:12

Therefore, thus, will I do unto thee, O Israel, - Because this thing I will do unto thee, Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Afflictions and Adversities;   Judgment;   Repentance;   Temptation;   Thompson Chain Reference - Readiness;   Readiness-Unreadiness;   The Topic Concordance - Turning;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Afflictions of the Wicked, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Holman Bible Dictionary - Amos;   Sorrow;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Amos (1);   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Prayer;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore, Israel, that is what I will do to you,and since I will do that to you,Israel, prepare to meet your God!
Hebrew Names Version
"Therefore thus will I do to you, Yisra'el; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, Yisra'el.
King James Version
Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.
English Standard Version
"Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!"
New American Standard Bible
"Therefore so I will do to you, Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, Israel."
New Century Version
"So this is what I will do to you, Israel; because I will do this to you, get ready to meet your God, Israel."
Amplified Bible
"Therefore this is what I shall do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God [in judgment], O Israel!"
Geneva Bible (1587)
Therefore, thus wil I do vnto thee, O Israel: and because I wil doe this vnto thee, prepare to meete thy God, O Israel.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel."
Legacy Standard Bible
"Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel;Because I will do this to you,Prepare to meet your God, O Israel."
Berean Standard Bible
"Therefore, that is what I will do to you, O Israel, and since I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!
Contemporary English Version
Now, Israel, I myself will deal with you. Get ready to face your God!
Complete Jewish Bible
"This is why I will deal with you in this way, Isra'el; and because I will deal with you in this way, prepare to meet your God, Isra'el —
Darby Translation
Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.
Easy-to-Read Version
"So, Israel, this is what I will do to you. You people of Israel, prepare to meet your God."
George Lamsa Translation
Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel, at the end; and because I will do this to you, prepare, O Israel, that you might call to your God.
Good News Translation
"So then, people of Israel, I am going to punish you. And because I am going to do this, get ready to face my judgment!"
Lexham English Bible
"Therefore, thus I will do to you, O Israel. Because I will do this to you, O Israel, prepare to meet your God!
Literal Translation
So I will do this to you, O Israel: Because of this that I will do to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel.
American Standard Version
Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel; and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.
Bible in Basic English
So this is what I will do to you, O Israel: and because I will do this to you, be ready for a meeting with your God, O Israel.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel; because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.
King James Version (1611)
Therefore thus will I doe vnto thee, O Israel: and because I will doe this vnto thee, prepare to meete thy God, O Israel.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Therfore thus will I do vnto thee O Israel, [and] because I will do this vnto thee, prepare to meete thy God O Israel.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Therefore thus will I do to thee, O Israel: nay because I will do thus to thee, prepare to call on thy God, O Israel.
English Revised Version
Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.
World English Bible
"Therefore thus will I do to you, Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, Israel.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Wherfor, thou Israel, Y schal do these thingis to thee; but aftir that Y schal do to thee these thingis, Israel, be maad redi in to ayen comyng of thi God.
Update Bible Version
Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; [and] because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel.
Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore thus will I do to thee, O Israel: [and] because I will do this to thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.
New English Translation
"Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel. Because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, Israel!
New King James Version
"Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!"
New Living Translation
"Therefore, I will bring upon you all the disasters I have announced. Prepare to meet your God in judgment, you people of Israel!"
New Life Bible
"So I will do this to you, O Israel. And because I will do this to you, get ready to meet your God, O Israel."
New Revised Standard
Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore I will do these things to thee, O Israel: and after I shall have done these things to thee, be prepared to meet thy God, O Israel.
Revised Standard Version
"Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!"
Young's Literal Translation
Therefore, thus I do to thee, O Israel, at last, Because this I do to thee, Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Therfore, thus will I handle the agayne (O Israel) ye euen thus will I handle the. Make the ready then to mete thy God, o Israel.
THE MESSAGE
"All this I have done to you, Israel, and this is why I have done it. Time's up, O Israel! Prepare to meet your God!"

Contextual Overview

6 Moreover also, I, have given you cleanness of teeth throughout all your cities, and want of bread throughout all your dwelling-places, - Yet have ye not returned unto me, Declareth Yahweh. 7 Moreover also, I, have withholden from you the abundant rain, when yet there were only three mouths to the harvest, Or I might rain upon one city, and, on another city, might not rain, - One portion, would be rained upon, and, the portion whereupon it should not rain, would be dried up; 8 Then would two or three cities totter to one city to drink water, without being satisfied, - Yet have ye not returned unto me, Declareth Yahweh. 9 I have smitten you with blight and with mildew, When your gardens and your vineyards and your fig-trees and your olive-trees have increased, the creeping locust would devour them, - Yet have ye not returned unto me, Declareth Yahweh. 10 I have sent among you pestilence, in the manner of Egypt, I have slain, with the sword, your young men, and therewith have been taken captive your horses, And I have caused to ascend - the stench of your camps, even into your own nostrils, Yet ye have not returned unto me, Declareth Yahweh. 11 I have made an overthrew among you, like the divine overthrow of Sodom arid Gomorrah, and ye have become like a brand snatched out of the burning, - Yet hate ye not returned unto me, Declareth Yahweh. 12 Therefore, thus, will I do unto thee, O Israel, - Because this thing I will do unto thee, Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. 13 For lo! He that fashioned the mountains, and created the wind, and who telleth the son of earth what is his thought, who turneth dawn into darkness, and marcheth upon the high places of the earth, Yahweh, God of hosts, is his name!

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

thus: Amos 4:2, Amos 4:3, Amos 2:14, Amos 9:1-4

prepare: Amos 5:4-15, Isaiah 47:3, Ezekiel 13:5, Ezekiel 22:30, Hosea 13:8, Matthew 5:25, Matthew 24:44-51, Matthew 25:1-13, Mark 13:32-37, Luke 14:31, Luke 14:32, Luke 21:3-36, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4, James 4:1-10, Revelation 3:3

Reciprocal: Exodus 19:15 - Be ready Deuteronomy 21:18 - will not Ezekiel 38:7 - General Matthew 25:6 - go Luke 1:17 - to make

Cross-References

Genesis 4:3
So it came to pass, after certain days, that Cain brought in of the fruit of the ground, a present to Yahweh:
Genesis 4:4
Abel, also, even, he, brought in of the firstlings of his sheep, and of their fat, and Yahweh approved of Abel and of his present;
Genesis 4:14
Lo! thou has driven me out, this day, from off the face of the ground And from thy face, shall I be hid, So shall I become a wanderer and a fugitive in the earth. And it shall come to pass, whosoever findeth me, will slay me.
Genesis 4:17
And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived, and bare Enoch, - Now it happened that he was building a city, so he called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
Genesis 4:18
And there was born to Enoch Irad, and, Irad, begat Mehujael, - and Mehujael, begat Methusael, - and Methusael, begat Lamech.
Genesis 4:23
Then said Lamech to his wives, Adah and Zillah! hear ye my voice, Ye wives of Lamech! give ear to my tale, For a man, have I slain in dealing my wounds, Yea, a youth, in smiting my blows:
Genesis 4:24
If, sevenfold, be, the avenging of Cain, Then, of Lamech, seventy and seven.
Leviticus 26:20
And your strength shall be spent in vain, - And your land shall not yield her increase, And the trees of the land, shall not yield their fruit.
Leviticus 26:36
And as for such as are left of you, Then will I bring faintness into their heart, in the lands of their foes, - So that the sound of a driven leaf shall chase them, And they shall flee as though fleeing from a sword And they shall fall, when no one is pursuing;
Psalms 109:10
Let his children, wander about, and beg, Let them be driven out of heir ruins;

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel,.... What he would do is not expressly and particularly said; it is commonly understood to be something in a way of judgment, and worse than what he had done, since they had no effect upon them; or these things should be done over again, until an utter end was made of them; or the reference is to Amos 3:11; and the following words are usually interpreted, either, ironically, since the Lord was coming forth as an enemy to issue the controversy with them; they are called upon to meet, him in a hostile way, and muster up all their forces, exert all their power and strength, and make use of their best weapons and military skill, and see what would be the consequence of all this; feeble worms set in opposition to the mighty God; thorns and briers he can easily go through, and burn up quickly: or else they are seriously addressed, and exhorted to meet the Lord in the way of his judgments, by humiliation, repentance, and reformation; not knowing but that after all he may be gracious and merciful to them, and turn away the fierceness of his anger from them; see Amos 5:15; but I rather think the words are a promise or intimation of doing something to Israel in a way of special grace and kindness, notwithstanding their conduct and behaviour, and the ineffectualness both of judgments and providential mercies; for the words may be rendered, as the same particle should be in Hosea 2:14; "notwithstanding", or "nevertheless, thus will I do unto thee" w; what I have from all eternity purposed and resolved to do, and what I have promised again and again, by the mouth of all the holy prophets, from the beginning of the world, I would do; namely, send my Son to be thy Saviour and Redeemer:

[and] because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel; the Messiah that was then to come was God, and so equal to the work of redemption and salvation he was to do; and the God of spiritual and mystical Israel, even all the elect, Jews and Gentiles, to be redeemed by him; was to be their Immanuel, God in their nature, and therefore to be met with the utmost joy and pleasure; see Zechariah 9:9; for this meeting him is not to be understood in a hostile way, and as spoken ironically to the enemies of Christ to oppose him, encounter with him, and mark the issue of it, who in time would cause them to be brought before him and slain, as some interpret the words; but in a friendly manner, as he was met by those that were waiting for his coming, such as Simeon and others; and by those John the Baptist called upon to prepare the way of the Lord; and as he was by his own disciples, who embraced him by faith, received him with joy, and left all and followed him; and as all such are prepared to meet him who are made truly sensible of sin, and of their own righteousness as insufficient to justify from it, and have seen the glory, fulness, and suitableness of his salvation. Christ is to be met with in his house and ordinances; and men are prepared for it when the desires of their hearts are towards him, and their graces are exercised on him; which preparation is from himself: he will be met at his second coming by his spiritual Israel; and they will be prepared for it who believe it, love it, and long for it; have their loins girt, and their lights burning, and they waiting for their Lord's coming; see Matthew 25:1; and so at the hour of death, which is the day of the Lord; a preparation and readiness for which lies not in external humiliation, outward reformation, a moral righteousness, or a bare profession of religion, and submission to ordinances; but in regeneration, in faith in Christ, and spiritual knowledge of him; in a being washed in his blood, and clothed with his righteousness; for which readiness all truly sensible sinners will be concerned, and which is all from the grace of God; see

Matthew 24:43. The Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, read it, "prepare to call upon thy God"; and the Targum paraphrases it,

"to receive the doctrine of the law of thy God;''

rather the doctrine of the Gospel; but the former sense is best; for the confirmation of which it may be observed, that when God is said to do a thing to any, it is usually in a way of grace; and that when preparation is made to meet a divine Person, it is always meant of the Son of God; and that it is a common thing in prophecy, that when the Lord is threatening men with his judgments, to throw in a promise or prophecy of the Messiah, for the comfort of his people.

w לכן "nihilominus tamen". Vid. Noldium, p. 507.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Therefore thus will I do unto thee - God says more by His silence. He had enumerated successive scourges. Now, with His hand uplifted to strike, He mentions none, but says, “thus.” Rib.: “So men too, loth to name evils, which they fear and detest, say, “God do so to me, and more also.” God using the language of people” Jerome, “having said, ‘thus will I do unto thee,’ is silent as to what He will do; that so, Israel hanging in suspense, as having before him each sort of punishment (which are the more terrible, because he imagines them one by one), may indeed repent, that God inflict not what He threatens.”

Prepare to meet thy God - In judgment, face to face, final to them. All the judgments which had been sent hitherto were but heralds, forerunners of the judgment to come. He Himself was not in them. In them, He passed no sentence upon Israel. They were medicinal, corrective; they were not His final sentence. Now, having tried all ways of recovering them in vain, God summons them before His tribunal. But although the judgment of the ten tribes, as a whole, was final, to individuals there was place for repentance. God never, in this life, bids people or individuals “prepare to meet Him,” without a purpose of good to those who do prepare to receive His sentence aright. He saith not then, “come and hear your doom,” but “prepare to meet thy God.” It has hope in it, to be bidden to “prepare;” yet more, that He whom they were to prepare to meet, was “their God.” It must have recurred full often to the mind of the ten tribes during their unrestored captivity of above seven centuries before the Coming of our Lord; a period as long as the whole existence of Rome from its foundation to its decay; as long as our history from our king Stephen until now.

Full oft must they have thought, “we have not met Him yet,” and the thought must have dawned upon them; “It is because He willed to “do thus” with us, that He bid us “prepare to meet” Him. He met us not, when He did it. It was then something further on; it is in the Messiah that we arc to meet and to see Him.” Jerome: “Prepare to meet thy God,” receiving with all eagerness the Lord coming unto thee.” So then, is this further sense which lay in a the words , “he (as did Hosea at the end) exhorts the ten tribes, after they had been led captive by the Assyrians, not to despond, but to “prepare to meet their God,” that is, to acknowledge and receive Christ their God, when the Gospel should be preached to them by the Apostles.” Rib.: “God punisheth, not in cruelty, but in love. He warns then those whom He strikes, to understand what He means by these punishments, not thinking themselves abandoned by God, but, even when they seem most cast away and reprobate, rousing themselves, in the hope of God’s mercy through Christ, to call upon God, and “prepare to meet their God.” For no one’s salvation is so desperate, no one is so stained with every kind of sin, but that God cometh to him by holy inspirations, to bring back the wanderer to Himself. Thou therefore, O Israel, whoever thou art, who didst once serve God, and now servest vilest pleasures, when thou feelest God coming to thee, prepare to meet Him. Open the door of thy heart to that most kind and benevolent Guest, and, when thou hearest His Voice, deafen not thyself: flee not, like Adam. For He seeketh thee, not to judge, but to save thee.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Amos 4:12. Therefore thus will I do unto thee — I will continue my judgments, I will fight against you; and, because I am thus determined,-

Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. — This is a military phrase, and is to be understood as a challenge to come out to battle. As if the Lord had said, I will attack you immediately. Throw yourselves into a posture of defense, summon your idols to your help: and try how far your strength, and that of your gods, will avail you against the unconquerable arm of the Lord of hosts! This verse has been often painfully misapplied by public teachers; it has no particular relation to the day of judgment, nor to the hour of death. These constructions are impositions on the text.


 
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