Amos 5:7-13

7 For those who turn ¹justice into wormwood And cast righteousness down to the earth."

8 He who made the ²Pleiades and Orion And ³changes deep darkness into morning, Who also ⁴darkens day into night, Who ⁵calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the surface of the earth, The ⁶LORD is His name.

9 It is He who ⁷flashes forth with destruction upon the strong, So that ⁸destruction comes upon the fortress.

10 They hate him who ⁹reproves in the gate, And they ¹⁰abhor him who speaks with integrity.

11 Therefore because you impose heavy rent on the poor And exact a tribute of grain from them, Though you have built ¹¹houses of well-hewn stone, Yet you will not live in them; You have planted pleasant vineyards, yet you will ¹²not drink their wine.

12 For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great, You who ¹³distress the righteous and accept bribes And turn aside the poor in the gate.

13 Therefore at such a time the prudent person ¹⁴keeps silent, for it is an evil time.

Amos 5:7-13 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.

Cross References

• 1. Amos 2:3; Amos 5:12; Amos 6:12
• 2. Job 9:9; Job 38:31
• 3. Job 12:22; Job 38:12; Isaiah 42:16
• 4. Psalms 104:20
• 5. Psalms 104:6-9; Amos 9:6
• 6. Amos 4:13
• 7. Isaiah 29:5; Amos 2:14
• 8. Micah 5:11
• 9. Isaiah 29:21; Amos 5:15
• 10. 1 Kings 22:8; Isaiah 59:15; Jeremiah 17:16-18
• 11. Amos 3:15; Amos 6:11
• 12. Micah 6:15
• 13. Isaiah 1:23; Isaiah 5:23; Amos 2:6
• 14. Ecclesiastes 3:7; Hosea 4:4

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "they have put down"
• [b]. Lit "And He darkened"
• [c]. I.e. the place where court was held
• [d]. Another reading is "trample upon"
• [e]. Lit "they turn"
• [f]. I.e. the place where court was held
• [g]. Lit "that time"