Amos 5:21-27

New International Reader's Version

“I hate your holy feasts.
    I can’t stand them.
    Your gatherings stink.
²² You bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings.
    But I will not accept them.
You bring your best friendship offerings.
    But I will not even look at them.
²³ Take the noise of your songs away!
    I will not listen to the music of your harps.
²⁴ I want you to treat others fairly.
    So let fair treatment roll on
    just as a river does!
Always do what is right.
    Let right living flow along
    like a stream that never runs dry!

²⁵ “People of Israel, did you bring me sacrifices and offerings
    for 40 years in the desert?
²⁶ Yes. But you have honored the place
    where your king worshiped other gods.
You have carried the stands
    the statues of your gods were on.
You have lifted up the banners
    of the stars you worship as gods.
    You made all those things for yourselves.
²⁷ So I will send you away
    as prisoners beyond Damascus,”
says the Lord.
    His name is God Who Rules Over All.