Amos 5:7-27

Words of doom

7 Doom to you who turn justice into poison, and throw righteousness to the ground!

8 The one who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning, and darkens the day into night; who summons the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the surface of the earth— this one's name is the LORD—

9 who causes destruction to flash out against the strong, so that destruction comes upon the fortress.

10 They hate the one who judges at the city gate, and they reject the one who speaks the truth.

11 Truly, because you crush the weak, and because you tax their grain, you have built houses of carved stone, but you won't live in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you won't drink their wine.

12 I know how many are your crimes, and how numerous are your sins— afflicting the righteous, taking money on the side, turning away the poor who seek help.

13 Therefore, the one who is wise will keep silent in that time; it is an evil time.

Words of inspiration

14 Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of heavenly forces, will be with you just as you have said.

15 Hate evil, love good, and establish justice at the city gate. Perhaps the LORD God of heavenly forces will be gracious to what is left of Joseph.

Divine wrath anticipated

16 Truly, the LORD proclaims, the God of heavenly forces, the Lord: Crying will be heard in all the squares. In all the streets they will say, "Oh no! Oh no!" They will call upon the farmers to wail, and those skilled in mourning to lament.

17 In all the vineyards there will be bitter crying because I will pass through your midst,

says the LORD.

A statement of divine disgust

18 Doom to those who desire the day of the LORD! Why do you want the day of the LORD? It is darkness, not light;

19 as if someone fled from a lion, and was met by a bear; or sought refuge in a house, rested a hand against the wall, and was bitten by a snake.

20 Isn't the day of the LORD darkness, not light; all dark with no brightness in it?

21 I hate, I reject your festivals; I don't enjoy your joyous assemblies.

22 If you bring me your entirely burned offerings and gifts of food— I won't be pleased; I won't even look at your offerings of well-fed animals.

23 Take away the noise of your songs; I won't listen to the melody of your harps.

24 But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

25 Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, house of Israel?

26 You will take up Sakkuth your king, and Kaiwan your star-god, your images, which you made for yourselves.

27 Therefore, I will take you away beyond Damascus, says the LORD, whose name is the God of heavenly forces.

Amos 5:7-27 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.