Amos 7:1-9

1Thus the Lord God showed me [a vision], and behold, He was forming a swarm of locusts when the spring crop began to sprout. And behold, the spring crop was after the king’s mowing.

2And when the locusts had finished eating the plants of the land, then I said, “O Lord God, please forgive! How can Jacob stand, For he is so small [that he cannot endure this]?”

3The Lord revoked this sentence. “It shall not take place,” said the Lord.

4Thus the Lord God showed me, and behold, the Lord God called for punishment with fire, and it devoured the great deep [underground sources of water] and began to consume the land.

5Then I said, “O Lord God, please stop! How can Jacob stand, For he is so small [that he cannot endure this]?”

6The Lord revoked this sentence. “This also shall not be,” said the Lord God.

7Thus He showed me [a vision], and behold, the Lord was standing by a vertical wall with a plumb line in His hand [to determine if the wall was straight or if it needed to be destroyed].

8The Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “Behold, I am setting a plumb line [as a standard] Among My people Israel [showing the defectiveness of the nation, requiring judgment]. I shall not spare them any longer. [The door of mercy is shut.]

9And the [idolatrous] high places of Isaac (Israel) will be devastated and deserted, And the sanctuaries of Israel will be in ruins. Then I shall rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the sword [and destroy the monarchy].”