Amos 1:1-2

Common English Bible

Introduction

1 These are the words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa. He perceived these things concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, in the days of Judah’s King Uzziah and in the days of Israel’s King Jeroboam, Joash’s son.

Proclamation of divine judgment

²    He said:
    The Lord roars from Zion.
        He shouts from Jerusalem;
        the pastures of the shepherds wither,
        and the top of Carmel dries up.

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Amos 5:14-15

Common English Bible

Words of inspiration

¹⁴Seek 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.
¹⁵Hate 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.

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Amos 5:21-24

Common English Bible

²¹I hate, I reject your festivals;
    I don’t enjoy your joyous assemblies.
²²If you bring me your entirely burned offerings and gifts of food—
        I won’t be pleased;
    I won’t even look at your offerings of well-fed animals.
²³Take away the noise of your songs;
        I won’t listen to the melody of your harps.
²⁴But let justice roll down like waters,
        and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.