Amos 5:7-15
New International Version
8 He who made the Pleiades and Orion,(D)
who turns midnight into dawn(E)
and darkens day into night,(F)
who calls for the waters of the sea
and pours them out over the face of the land—
the Lord is his name.(G)
9 With a blinding flash he destroys the stronghold
and brings the fortified city to ruin.(H)
10 There are those who hate the one who upholds justice in court(I)
and detest the one who tells the truth.(J)
11 You levy a straw tax on the poor(K)
and impose a tax on their grain.
Therefore, though you have built stone mansions,(L)
you will not live in them;(M)
though you have planted lush vineyards,
you will not drink their wine.(N)
12 For I know how many are your offenses
and how great your sins.(O)
Amos 5:7-15
English Standard Version
8 He who made the (B)Pleiades and Orion,
and turns deep darkness into the morning
and (C)darkens the day into night,
who (D)calls for the waters of the sea
(E)and pours them out on the surface of the earth,
(F)the Lord is his name;
9 (G)who makes destruction flash forth against the strong,
so that destruction comes upon the fortress.
10 (H)They hate him who reproves (I)in the gate,
and they (J)abhor him who speaks the truth.
11 Therefore because you (K)trample on[b] the poor
and you exact taxes of grain from him,
(L)you have built houses of hewn stone,
but you shall not dwell in them;
(M)you 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 (N)take a bribe,
and (O)turn aside the needy (P)in the gate.
13 Therefore he who is prudent will (Q)keep silent in such a time,
(R)for it is an evil time.
14 (S)Seek good, and not evil,
that you may live;
and so the Lord, (T)the God of hosts, will be with you,
as you have said.
15 (U)Hate evil, and love good,
and establish justice (V)in the gate;
(W)it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts,
will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
Amos 5:7-15
New American Standard Bible
8 He who made the (B)Pleiades and Orion,
And (C)changes deep darkness into morning,
[b]Who also (D)darkens day into night,
Who (E)calls for the waters of the sea
And pours them out on the surface of the earth,
The (F)Lord is His name.
9 It is He who (G)makes destruction flash upon the strong,
So that (H)destruction comes upon the fortress.
10 They hate him who (I)rebukes in the [c]gate,
And they (J)despise him who speaks with integrity.
11 Therefore because you impose heavy [d]rent on the poor
And take a tribute of grain from them,
Though you have built (K)houses of cut stone,
Yet you will not live in them;
You have planted beautiful vineyards, yet you will (L)not drink their wine.
12 For I know your offenses are many and your sins are great,
You who are (M)hostile to the righteous and accept bribes,
And [e]turn away the poor from justice at the [f]gate.
13 Therefore at [g]such a time the prudent person (N)keeps quiet, because it is an evil time.
14 Seek good and not evil, so that you may live;
And so may the Lord God of armies be with you,
(O)Just as you have said!
15 (P)Hate evil, love good,
And establish justice in the [h]gate!
Perhaps the Lord God of armies
(Q)Will be gracious to the (R)remnant of Joseph.
Amos 5:7-15
Common English Bible
Words of doom
7 Doom to you who turn justice into poison,
and throw righteousness to the ground!
8 The one who made the Pleiades and Orion,
and turns deep darkness into the morning,
and darkens the day into night;
who summons the waters of the sea,
and pours them out on the surface of the earth—
this one’s name is the Lord—
9 who causes destruction to flash out against the strong,
so that destruction comes upon the fortress.
10 They hate the one who judges at the city gate,
and they reject the one who speaks the truth.
11 Truly, because you crush the weak,
and because you tax their grain,
you have built houses of carved stone,
but you won’t live in them;
you have planted pleasant vineyards,
but you won’t drink their wine.
12 I know how many are your crimes,
and how numerous are your sins—
afflicting the righteous,
taking money on the side,
turning away the poor who seek help.
13 Therefore, the one who is wise will keep silent in that time;
it is an evil time.
Words of inspiration
14 Seek good and not evil,
that you may live;
and so the Lord, the God of heavenly forces,
will be with you just as you have said.
15 Hate evil, love good,
and establish justice at the city gate.
Perhaps the Lord God of heavenly forces
will be gracious to what is left of Joseph.
Amos 5:7-15
Contemporary English Version
7 You people are doomed!
You twist the truth
and trample on justice.
8 (A) But the Lord created the stars
and put them in place.[a]
He turns darkness to dawn
and daylight to darkness;
he scoops up the ocean
and empties it on the earth.
9 God destroys mighty soldiers
and strong fortresses.
Choose Good Instead of Evil!
The Lord said:
10 You people hate judges
and honest witnesses;
11 you abuse the poor and demand
heavy taxes from them.
You have built expensive homes,
but you won't enjoy them;
you have planted vineyards,
but you will get no wine.
12 I am the Lord, and I know
your terrible sins.
You cheat honest people
and take bribes;
you rob the poor of justice.
13 Times are so evil
that anyone with good sense
will keep quiet.
14 If you really want to live,
you must stop doing wrong
and start doing right.
I, the Lord God All-Powerful,
will then be on your side,
just as you claim I am.
15 Choose good instead of evil!
See that justice is done.
Maybe I, the Lord All-Powerful,
will be kind to what's left
of your people.[b]
Footnotes
- 5.8 the stars … place: The Hebrew text mentions two groups of stars, Pleiades and Orion. Since the Lord is the Creator of the stars, he controls the seasons that are signaled by the different positions of the stars. Moreover, the stars are created objects and should not be worshiped.
- 5.15 your people: Hebrew “Joseph's descendants” (see the note at 5.6).
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