Amos 7:1-9

GOD, my Master, showed me this vision: He was preparing a locust swarm. The first cutting, which went to the king, was complete, and the second crop was just sprouting. The locusts ate everything green. Not even a blade of grass was left. I called out, “GOD, my Master! Excuse me, but what’s going to come of Jacob? He’s so small.” GOD gave in. “It won’t happen,” he said. * * * GOD showed me this vision: Oh! GOD, my Master GOD was calling up a firestorm. It burned up the ocean. Then it burned up the Promised Land. I said, “GOD, my Master! Hold it—please! What’s going to come of Jacob? He’s so small.” GOD gave in. “All right, this won’t happen either,” GOD, my Master, said. * * * GOD showed me this vision: My Master was standing beside a wall. In his hand he held a plumb line. GOD said to me, “What do you see, Amos?” I said, “A plumb line.” Then my Master said, “Look what I’ve done. I’ve hung a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel. I’ve spared them for the last time. This is it!