Amos 5:7-13

7 Those who turn justice into wormwood^[a] throw righteousness to the ground.

8 The One who made the Pleiades and Orion,^[b] who turns darkness^[c] into dawn^[d] and darkens day into night,^[e] who summons the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the earth^[f]- Yahweh is His name.

9 He brings destruction^[g] on the strong,^[h] and it falls on the stronghold.

10 They hate the one who convicts [the guilty] at the city gate and despise the one who speaks with integrity.

11 Therefore, because you trample on the poor and exact a grain tax from him, you will never live in the houses of cut stone you have built; you will never drink the wine from the lush vineyards you have planted.^[i]

12 For I know your crimes are many and your sins innumerable. They oppress the righteous, take a bribe, and deprive the poor of justice at the gates.

13 Therefore, the wise person will keep silent at such a time, for the days are evil.

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.

Footnotes

• [a] Am 6:12
• [b] Jb 9:9; 38:31
• [c] Or turns the shadow of death
• [d] Am 4:13; Gn 1:2-3; Jb 38:12
• [e] Am 8:9
• [f] Jb 36:27-30
• [g] Hb obscure
• [h] Or stronghold
• [i] Dt 28:30; Mc 6:15; Zph 1:13