Amos 5:18-6:1

English Standard Version

Let Justice Roll Down

¹⁸Woe to you who desire ^(A)the day of the Lord!
    Why would you have the day of the Lord?
^(B)It is darkness, and not light,
¹⁹    ^(C)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^(D)Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light,
    and gloom with no brightness in it?

²¹^(E)“I hate, I despise your feasts,
    and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
²²^(F)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 ^(G)the melody of your harps I will not listen.
²⁴But let justice roll down like waters,
    and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

²⁵^(H)“Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? ²⁶^(I)You ^(J)shall take up Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your star-god—your images that you made for yourselves, ²⁷^(K)and I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is ^(L)the God of hosts.

Woe to Those at Ease in Zion

6 ^(M)“Woe to those who are at ease in Zion,
and to those who feel secure on ^(N)the mountain of Samaria,
^(O)the notable men of ^(P)the first of the nations,
to whom the house of Israel comes!