The LORD repented concerning this/The LORD changed his mind. A transitional word or expression may be needed to show the relationship of this sentence to what went before, according to the language: “then,” “so,” or “because of what Amos said.”

Here, as so often in the Old Testament, God is spoken of as though he were a human being. Such expressions often give trouble to translators. The major meaning here is “change of mind,” with additional meanings of personal involvement, emotional awareness, and sensitivity to others. When the LORD is doing it there does not seem to be any meaning of regret or sorrow. In most languages there is no serious trouble translating changed his mind, using such idiomatic expressions as “turning backwards in his thoughts,” etc.

It shall not be/and said, “What you saw will not take place.” The tense here will have to fit what is used in 7.2 and what would be natural in this context in the language. Another possibility in English would be “No, it’s not going to happen.”

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 .