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

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

Let Justice Roll Down

18 Woe to you who desire (E)the day of the Lord!
    Why would you have the day of the Lord?
(F)It is darkness, and not light,
19     (G)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 (H)Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light,
    and gloom with no brightness in it?

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16 Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of the Heavenly Armies, the Lord, says:

‘There will be dirges in all of the streets;
        and in all of the highways they will cry out in anguish.[a]
They will call the farmer to mourning
    and those who lament[b] to grieve.
17 And in all of the vineyards there will be mourning
    when I pass through your midst,’
        says the Lord.”

The Fearful Day of the Lord

18 “Woe to those who are craving the Day of the Lord!
    How is it to your benefit, this Day of the Lord?
        It’s a day of[c] darkness to you, and not light.
19 It will be like a man who runs from a lion,
    only to encounter a bear;
or who comes home, leans his hand against a wall,
    and a serpent bites him!
20 Will not the Day of the Lord be darkness, and not light—
    pitch black at that, without a ray of sunshine?”

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Footnotes

  1. Amos 5:16 Lit. will say, “Alas! Alas!”
  2. Amos 5:16 I.e. professional mourners
  3. Amos 5:18 The Heb. lacks a day of