Amos 5

1 audite verbum istud quod ego levo super vos planctum domus Israhel cecidit non adiciet ut resurgat

2 virgo Israhel proiecta est in terram suam non est qui suscitet eam

3 quia haec dicit Dominus Deus urbs de qua egrediebantur mille relinquentur in ea centum et de qua egrediebantur centum relinquentur in ea decem in domo Israhel

4 quia haec dicit Dominus domui Israhel quaerite me et vivetis

5 et nolite quaerere Bethel et in Galgala nolite intrare et in Bersabee non transibitis quia Galgala captiva ducetur et Bethel erit inutilis

6 quaerite Dominum et vivite ne forte conburatur ut ignis domus Ioseph et devorabit et non erit qui extinguat Bethel

7 qui convertitis in absinthium iudicium et iustitiam in terra relinquitis

8 facientem Arcturum et Orionem et convertentem in mane tenebras et diem nocte mutantem qui vocat aquas maris et effundit eas super faciem terrae Dominus nomen eius

9 qui subridet vastitatem super robustum et depopulationem super potentem adfert

10 odio habuerunt in porta corripientem et loquentem perfecte abominati sunt

11 idcirco pro eo quod diripiebatis pauperem et praedam electam tollebatis ab eo domos quadro lapide aedificabitis et non habitabitis in eis vineas amantissimas plantabitis et non bibetis vinum earum

12 quia cognovi multa scelera vestra et fortia peccata vestra hostes iusti accipientes munus et pauperes in porta deprimentes

13 ideo prudens in tempore illo tacebit quia tempus malum est

14 quaerite bonum et non malum ut vivatis et erit Dominus Deus exercituum vobiscum sicut dixistis

15 odite malum et diligite bonum et constituite in porta iudicium si forte misereatur Dominus Deus exercituum reliquiis Ioseph

16 propterea haec dicit Dominus Deus exercituum Dominator in omnibus plateis planctus et in cunctis quae foris sunt dicetur vae vae et vocabunt agricolam ad luctum et ad planctum eos qui sciunt plangere

17 et in omnibus vineis erit planctus quia pertransibo in medio tui dicit Dominus

18 vae desiderantibus diem Domini ad quid eam vobis dies Domini ista tenebrae et non lux

19 quomodo si fugiat vir a facie leonis et occurrat ei ursus et ingrediatur domum et innitatur manu sua super parietem et mordeat eum coluber

20 numquid non tenebrae dies Domini et non lux et caligo et non splendor in ea

21 odi et proieci festivitates vestras et non capiam odorem coetuum vestrorum

22 quod si adtuleritis mihi holocaustomata et munera vestra non suscipiam et vota pinguium vestrorum non respiciam

23 aufer a me tumultum carminum tuorum et cantica lyrae tuae non audiam

24 et revelabitur quasi aqua iudicium et iustitia quasi torrens fortis

25 numquid hostias et sacrificium obtulistis mihi in deserto quadraginta annis domus Israhel

26 et portastis tabernaculum Moloch vestro et imaginem idolorum vestrorum sidus dei vestri quae fecistis vobis

27 et migrare vos faciam trans Damascum dixit Dominus Deus exercituum nomen eius

Amos 5 Commentary

Chapter 5

Israel is called to seek the Lord. (1-6) Earnest exhortations to repentance. (7-17) Threatenings respecting idolatries. (18-27)

Verses 1-6 The convincing, awakening word must be heard and heeded, as well as words of comfort and peace; for whether we hear or forbear, the word of God shall take effect. The Lord still proclaims mercy to men, but they often expect deliverance from such self-invented forms as make their condemnation sure. While they refuse to come to Christ and to seek mercy in and by him, that they may live, the fire of Divine wrath breaks forth upon them. Men may make an idol of the world, but will find it cannot protect.

Verses 7-17 The same almighty power can, for repenting sinners, easily turn affliction and sorrow into prosperity and joy, and as easily turn the prosperity of daring sinners into utter darkness. Evil times will not bear plain dealing; that is, evil men will not. And these men were evil men indeed, when wise and good men thought it in vain even to speak to them. Those who will seek and love that which is good, may help to save the land from ruin. It behoves us to plead God's spiritual promises, to beseech him to create in us a clean heart, and to renew a right spirit within us. The Lord is ever ready to be gracious to the souls that seek him; and then piety and every duty will be attended to. But as for sinful Israel, God's judgments had often passed by them, now they shall pass through them.

Verses 18-27 Woe unto those that desire the day of the Lord's judgments, that wish for times of war and confusion; as some who long for changes, hoping to rise upon the ruins of their country! but this should be so great a desolation, that nobody could gain by it. The day of the Lord will be a dark, dismal, gloomy day to all impenitent sinners. When God makes a day dark, all the world cannot make it light. Those who are not reformed by the judgments of God, will be pursued by them; if they escape one, another stands ready to seize them. A pretence of piety is double iniquity, and so it will be found. The people of Israel copied the crimes of their forefathers. The law of worshipping the Lord our God, is, Him only we must serve. Professors thrive so little, because they have little or no communion with God in their duties. They were led captive by Satan into idolatry, therefore God caused them to go into captivity among idolaters.

Chapter Summary

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.