Amos 5:18-24

Contemporary English Version

¹⁸ You look forward to the day
when the Lord comes to judge.
    But you are in for trouble!
It won't be a time of sunshine;
    all will be darkness.
¹⁹ You will run from a lion,
    only to meet a bear.
You will escape to your house,
rest your hand on the wall,
    and be bitten by a snake.
²⁰ The day when the Lord judges
will be dark, very dark,
    without a ray of light.

^21 (A) I, the Lord, hate and despise
your religious celebrations
    and your times of worship.
²² I won't accept your offerings
or animal sacrifices—
    not even your very best.
²³ No more of your noisy songs!
I won't listen
    when you play your harps.
²⁴ But let justice and fairness
flow like a river
    that never runs dry.