Amos 5:16-26

16 Therefore thus says Adonai ELOHEI-Tzva'ot, Adonai: "In all public squares there will be lamentation, in all the streets they will cry, 'Oh, no!' They will summon farmers to mourn and professional mourners to wail.

17 There will be wailing in every vineyard, for I will pass through among you," says ADONAI.

18 Woe to you who want the Day of ADONAI! Why do you want it, this Day of ADONAI? It is darkness, not light;

19 as if someone were to run from a lion, just to be met by a bear; as if he entered a house, put his hand on the wall, just to be bitten by a snake.

20 Won't the Day of ADONAI be darkness, not light, completely dark, with no brightness at all?

21 "I hate, I utterly loathe your festivals; I take no pleasure in your solemn assemblies.

22 If you offer me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; nor will I consider the peace offerings of your stall-fed cattle.

23 Spare me the noise of your songs! I don't want to hear the strumming of your lutes!

24 Instead, let justice well up like water, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

25 Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings in the desert forty years, house of Isra'el?

26 No, but now you will bear Sikkut as your king and Kiyun, your images, the star of your god, which you made for yourselves;

Amos 5:16-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 5

In this chapter the prophet exhorts Israel to hear his lamentation over them for their impending ruin, Am 5:1-3; nevertheless to seek the Lord, and all that is good; to forsake their idols, and repent of their sins, in hopes of finding mercy, and living comfortably; or otherwise they must expect the wrath of God for their iniquities, especially their oppression of the poor, Am 5:4-15; otherwise it would be a time of weeping and wailing, of darkness and distress, however they might harden or flatter themselves, or make a jest of it, Am 5:16-20; for all their sacrifices and ceremonial worship would signify nothing, so long as they continued their idolatry with them Am 5:21-26; and therefore should surely go into captivity, Am 5:27.