Amos 5:11-24

English Standard Version

¹¹Therefore because you ^(A)trample on^[a] the poor
    and you exact taxes of grain from him,
^(B)you have built houses of hewn stone,
    but you shall not dwell in them;
^(C)you have planted pleasant vineyards,
    but you shall not drink their wine.
¹²For I know how many are your transgressions
    and how great are your sins—
you who afflict the righteous, who ^(D)take a bribe,
    and ^(E)turn aside the needy ^(F)in the gate.
¹³Therefore he who is prudent will ^(G)keep silent in such a time,
    ^(H)for it is an evil time.

¹⁴^(I)Seek good, and not evil,
    that you may live;
and so the Lord, ^(J)the God of hosts, will be with you,
    as you have said.
¹⁵^(K)Hate evil, and love good,
    and establish justice ^(L)in the gate;
^(M)it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts,
    will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

¹⁶Therefore thus says the Lord, ^(N)the God of hosts, the Lord:

“In all the squares ^(O)there shall be wailing,
    and in all the streets they shall say, ‘Alas! Alas!’
They shall call the farmers to mourning
    and ^(P)to wailing those who are skilled in lamentation,
¹⁷and in all vineyards there shall be wailing,
    for ^(Q)I will pass through your midst,”
says the Lord.

Let Justice Roll Down

¹⁸Woe to you who desire ^(R)the day of the Lord!
    Why would you have the day of the Lord?
^(S)It is darkness, and not light,
¹⁹    ^(T)as if a man fled from a lion,
    and a bear met him,
or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall,
    and a serpent bit him.
²⁰^(U)Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light,
    and gloom with no brightness in it?

²¹^(V)“I hate, I despise your feasts,
    and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
²²^(W)Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
    I will not accept them;
and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,
    I will not look upon them.
²³Take away from me the noise of your songs;
    to ^(X)the melody of your harps I will not listen.
²⁴But let justice roll down like waters,
    and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.