Amos 5:16-26

16 This is what the LORD, the Almighty God of Armies, says: There will be loud crying in every city square, and people will say in every street, "Oh, no!" They will call on farmers to mourn and on professional mourners to cry loudly.

17 There will be loud crying in every vineyard, because I will pass through your land [with death]. The LORD has said this.

18 How horrible it will be for those who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for that day? The day of the LORD is one of darkness and not light.

19 It is like a person who flees from a lion only to be attacked by a bear. It is like a person who goes home and puts his hand on the wall only to be bitten by a snake.

20 The day of the LORD brings darkness and not light. It is pitch black, with no light.

21 I hate your festivals; I despise them. I'm not pleased with your religious assemblies.

22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I won't accept them. I won't even look at the fellowship offerings of your choicest animals.

23 Spare me the sound of your songs. I won't listen to the music of your harps.

24 But let justice flow like a river and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

25 Did you bring me sacrifices and grain offerings in the desert for 40 years, nation of Israel?

26 You carried along the statues of [the god] Sikkuth as your king and the star Kiyyun, the gods 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.