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Seek the Lord and live,
    or he will rush upon the house of Joseph like fire.
    The fire will consume, and no one will extinguish it for Bethel.

There are some who turn justice into wormwood,[a]
    who throw righteousness to the ground.

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Footnotes

  1. Amos 5:7 Wormwood is a toxic, bitter-tasting substance (absinthe).

Seek(A) the Lord and live,(B)
    or he will sweep through the tribes of Joseph like a fire;(C)
it will devour them,
    and Bethel(D) will have no one to quench it.(E)

There are those who turn justice into bitterness(F)
    and cast righteousness(G) to the ground.(H)

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10 There are those who hate an arbitrator[a] in the city gate.[b]
    They despise anyone who speaks honestly.
11 That is why you trample on the poor,
    and you collect taxes on their grain.
    You have built houses of cut stones,
    but you will not live in them.
    You have planted choice vineyards,
    but you will not drink their wine.
12 For I know that your rebellious deeds are many,
    and your sins are numerous,
    you who are enemies of a righteous man,
    you who take bribes.
    They thrust away needy people in the city gate.
13 That is why a prudent man will be silent in that time,
    because it is an evil time.

14 Seek good and not evil, so that you may live,
    and then it will be like this for you:
    The Lord, the God of Armies, will be with you, as you claim.
15 Hate evil and love good.
    Establish justice in the city gate.
    Perhaps the Lord, the God of Armies,
        will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

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Footnotes

  1. Amos 5:10 Or a mediator
  2. Amos 5:10 The city gate served as the courthouse.

10 There are those who hate the one who upholds justice in court(A)
    and detest the one who tells the truth.(B)

11 You levy a straw tax on the poor(C)
    and impose a tax on their grain.
Therefore, though you have built stone mansions,(D)
    you will not live in them;(E)
though you have planted lush vineyards,
    you will not drink their wine.(F)
12 For I know how many are your offenses
    and how great your sins.(G)

There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes(H)
    and deprive the poor(I) of justice in the courts.(J)
13 Therefore the prudent keep quiet(K) in such times,
    for the times are evil.(L)

14 Seek good, not evil,
    that you may live.(M)
Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you,
    just as you say he is.
15 Hate evil,(N) love good;(O)
    maintain justice in the courts.(P)
Perhaps(Q) the Lord God Almighty will have mercy(R)
    on the remnant(S) of Joseph.

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