Amos 5:16-26

16 Therefore thus says the LORD, ¹the God of hosts, the Lord: "In all the squares ²there shall be wailing, and in all the streets they shall say, 'Alas! Alas!' They shall call the farmers to mourning and ³to wailing those who are skilled in lamentation,

17 and in all vineyards there shall be wailing, for ⁴I will pass through your midst," says the LORD.

Let Justice Roll Down

18 Woe to you who desire ⁵the day of the LORD! Why would you have the day of the LORD? ⁶It is darkness, and not light,

19 ⁷as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him, or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall, and a serpent bit him.

20 ⁸Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?

21 ⁹"I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

22 ¹⁰Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them.

23 Take away from me the noise of your songs; to ¹¹the melody of your harps I will not listen.

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

25 ¹²"Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?

26 ¹³You ¹⁴shall take up Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your star-god--your images that 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.

Cross References

• 1. [See ver. 14 above]
• 2. [Jeremiah 9:17, 18]
• 3. [Jeremiah 9:17, 18]
• 4. Exodus 12:12
• 5. See Joel 1:15
• 6. See Joel 2:1, 2
• 7. [Isaiah 24:18; Jeremiah 48:44]
• 8. [See ver. 18 above]
• 9. Isaiah 1:14; [Jeremiah 6:20]
• 10. Psalms 51:16, 17; Isaiah 1:11
• 11. [Amos 6:5; Amos 8:3; Isaiah 5:12]
• 12. Cited Acts 7:42, 43
• 13. [Deuteronomy 32:17; Ezekiel 20:16, 24]
• 14. [Isaiah 46:7]