Amos 5:7-13

7 O 1you who turn justice to wormwood[a] and cast down righteousness to the earth!
8 He who made the 2Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning and 3darkens the day into night, who 4calls for the waters of the sea 5and pours them out on the surface of the earth, 6the LORD is his name;
9 7who makes destruction flash forth against the strong, so that destruction comes upon the fortress.
10 8They hate him who reproves 9in the gate, and they 10abhor him who speaks the truth.
11 Therefore because you 11trample on[b] the poor and you exact taxes of grain from him, 12you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; 13you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine.
12 For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins-- you who afflict the righteous, who 14take a bribe, and 15turn aside the needy 16in the gate.
13 Therefore he who is prudent will 17keep silent in such a time, 18for 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 18

  • 1. [Amos 6:12]
  • 2. Job 9:9; Job 38:31
  • 3. Psalms 104:20; [Amos 4:13; Amos 8:9]
  • 4. Amos 9:6; [Genesis 6:17; Psalms 104:6, 7]
  • 5. Amos 9:6; [Genesis 6:17; Psalms 104:6, 7]
  • 6. See Amos 4:13
  • 7. [Jeremiah 50:32]
  • 8. Isaiah 29:21; [Proverbs 15:5, 10]
  • 9. See Ruth 4:1
  • 10. [1 Kings 22:8]
  • 11. [James 2:6]
  • 12. Deuteronomy 28:30, 39; Micah 6:15; Zephaniah 1:13
  • 13. Deuteronomy 28:30, 39; Micah 6:15; Zephaniah 1:13
  • 14. 1 Samuel 8:3; 1 Samuel 12:3; [Psalms 26:10]
  • 15. Amos 2:7; Isaiah 29:21
  • 16. [See ver. 10 above]
  • 17. [Ecclesiastes 3:7]
  • 18. Micah 2:3

Footnotes 2

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.