Hear this, you who [a](A)trample the needy, to put an end to the humble of the land, saying,

“When will the (B)new moon [b]be over,
So that we may sell grain;
And the (C)Sabbath, so that we may open the wheat market,
To make the [c]ephah smaller and the [d]shekel bigger,
And to (D)cheat with dishonest scales,
So as to (E)buy the helpless for [e]money,
And the needy for a pair of sandals,
And that we may sell the refuse of the wheat?”

The Lord has (F)sworn by the (G)pride of Jacob,
“Indeed, I will (H)never forget any of their deeds.
Because of this will the land not (I)quake,
And everyone who lives in it (J)mourn?
Indeed, all of it will (K)rise up like the Nile,
And it will be tossed about
And subside like the Nile of Egypt.

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Footnotes

  1. Amos 8:4 Or snap at
  2. Amos 8:5 Lit pass by
  3. Amos 8:5 About 1 cubic foot or 0.03 cubic meters
  4. Amos 8:5 About 0.5 oz. or 14 gm
  5. Amos 8:6 Lit silver

Hear this, you who trample the needy
    and do away with the poor(A) of the land,(B)

saying,

“When will the New Moon(C) be over
    that we may sell grain,
and the Sabbath be ended
    that we may market(D) wheat?”(E)
skimping on the measure,
    boosting the price
    and cheating(F) with dishonest scales,(G)
buying the poor(H) with silver
    and the needy for a pair of sandals,
    selling even the sweepings with the wheat.(I)

The Lord has sworn by himself, the Pride of Jacob:(J) “I will never forget(K) anything they have done.(L)

“Will not the land tremble(M) for this,
    and all who live in it mourn?
The whole land will rise like the Nile;
    it will be stirred up and then sink
    like the river of Egypt.(N)

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