I have also spokento the prophets,And I gavenumerousvisions,And throughthe prophetsI gaveparables.
Now behold,there camea manof Godfrom Judahto Bethelby the wordof the LORD,while Jeroboamwas standingby the altarto burnincense.
Now Elijahthe Tishbite,who was of the settlersof Gilead,saidto Ahab,"As the LORD,the Godof Israellives,beforewhomI stand,surelythere shall be neitherdewnor raintheseyears,exceptby my word."
He said,"I have beenveryzealousfor the LORD,the Godof hosts;for the sonsof Israelhave forsakenYour covenant,torndownYour altarsand killedYour prophetswith the sword.And I aloneam left;and they seekmy life,to takeit away."
Yet the LORDwarnedIsraeland JudahthroughallHis prophets[and] everyseer,saying,"Turnfrom your evilwaysand keepMy commandments,My statutesaccording to allthe lawwhichI commandedyour fathers,and whichI sentto you throughMy servantsthe prophets."
"However, You borewith them for manyyears,And admonishedthem by Your SpiritthroughYour prophets,Yet they would not giveear.Therefore You gavethem into the handof the peoplesof the lands.
"I am the LORDyour God,whobroughtyou out of the landof Egypt,out of the houseof slavery.
Thussaysthe LORD,"Goand buya potter'searthenwarejar,and [take] someof the eldersof the peopleand someof the seniorpriests.
"Then you are to breakthe jarin the sightof the menwho accompanyyou
"And the LORDhas sentto you allHis servantsthe prophetsagainand again,but you have not listenednorinclinedyour earto hear,
"Sincethe daythat your fatherscameout of the landof Egyptuntilthisday,I have sentyou allMy servantsthe prophets,dailyrisingearlyand sending[them].
"Sonof man,propounda riddleand speaka parableto the houseof Israel,
Then I said,"AhLordGOD!They are sayingof me, 'Is he not [just] speakingparables?'"
Yet I [have been] the LORDyour GodSincethe landof Egypt;And you were not to knowany godexceptMe, For thereis nosaviorbesidesMe.
Then the LORDsaidto me, "Goagain,lovea woman[who] is lovedby [her] husband,yet an adulteress,even as the LORDlovesthe sonsof Israel,though they turnto othergodsand loveraisincakes."
"It will comeabout afterthisThat I will pourout My Spiriton allmankind;And your sonsand daughterswill prophesy,Your oldmenwill dreamdreams,Your youngmenwill seevisions.
You shall livein boothsfor sevendays;allthe native-bornin Israelshall livein booths,
Then Amosrepliedto Amaziah,"I am not a prophet,noram I the sonof a prophet;for I am a herdsmanand a growerof sycamorefigs.
He said,"HearnowMy words:Ifthere is a prophetamong you, I, the LORD,shall makeMyself knownto him in a vision.I shall speakwith him in a dream.
AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LASTDAYS,'Godsays,'THAT I WILL POUR FORTHOF MY SPIRITON ALLMANKIND;AND YOUR SONSAND YOUR DAUGHTERSSHALL PROPHESY,AND YOUR YOUNG MENSHALL SEEVISIONS,AND YOUR OLD MENSHALL DREAMDREAMS;
Boastingis necessary,thoughit is not profitable;but I will goon to visionsand revelationsof the Lord.
Because of the surpassing greatnessof the revelations,for this reason,to keepme from exaltingmyself, there was givenme a thornin the flesh,a messengerof Satanto tormentme-- to keepme from exaltingmyself!
