Amos 5:4-15
Amplified Bible
4 For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel,
“Seek Me [search diligently for Me and regard Me as more essential than food] so that you may live.(A)
5
“But do not resort to Bethel [to worship the golden calf]
Nor enter [idolatrous] Gilgal,
Nor cross over to Beersheba [and its idols];
For Gilgal will certainly go into captivity and exile,
And Bethel will come to nothing.
6
“Seek the Lord [search diligently for Him and long for Him as your most essential need] so that you may live,
Or He will rush down like a [devouring] fire, O [a]house of Joseph,
And there will be no one to quench the flame for [idolatrous] [b]Bethel,
7
“For those [shall be consumed] who turn justice into wormwood (bitterness)
And cast righteousness down to the earth.”
8
He who made the [cluster of stars called] Pleiades and [the constellation] Orion,
Who turns deep darkness into the morning
And darkens the day into night,
Who calls for the waters of the sea
And pours them out on the surface of the earth,
The Lord is His name.
9
It is He who causes [sudden] destruction to flash forth on the strong
So that destruction comes on the fortress.
10
They hate the one who reprimands [the unrighteous] in the [court held at the city] gate [regarding him as unreasonable and rejecting his reprimand],
And they detest him who speaks [the truth] with integrity and honesty.
11
Therefore, because you impose heavy rent on the poor
And demand a tribute (food-tax) of grain from them,
Though you have built [luxurious] houses of square stone,
You will not live in them;
You have planted beautiful vineyards, but you will not drink their wine.
12
For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great (shocking, innumerable),
You who distress the righteous and take bribes,
And turn away from the poor in the [court of the city] gate [depriving them of justice].
13
Therefore, he who is prudent and has insight will keep silent at such a [corrupt and evil] time, for it is an evil time [when people will not listen to truth and will disregard those of good character].
14
Seek (long for, require) good and not evil, that you may live;
And so may the Lord God of hosts be with you,
Just as you have said!
15
Hate evil and love good,
And establish justice in the [court of the city] gate.
Perhaps the Lord God of hosts
Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph [that is, those who remain after God’s judgment].
Amos 5:4-15
New American Standard Bible
4 For this is what the Lord says to the house of Israel:
“(A)Seek Me (B)so that you may live.
5 But do not [a]resort to (C)Bethel
And do not come to (D)Gilgal,
Nor cross over to (E)Beersheba;
For Gilgal will certainly go into captivity
And Bethel will [b]come to nothing.
6 (F)Seek the Lord so that you may live,
Or He will break through like a (G)fire, [c]house of Joseph,
And it will consume with no one to extinguish it for Bethel,
7 For those who turn (H)justice into wormwood,
And [d]throw righteousness to the earth.”
8 He who made the (I)Pleiades and Orion,
And (J)changes deep darkness into morning,
[e]Who also (K)darkens day into night,
Who (L)calls for the waters of the sea
And pours them out on the surface of the earth,
The (M)Lord is His name.
9 It is He who (N)makes destruction flash upon the strong,
So that (O)destruction comes upon the fortress.
10 They hate him who (P)rebukes in the [f]gate,
And they (Q)despise him who speaks with integrity.
11 Therefore because you impose heavy [g]rent on the poor
And take a tribute of grain from them,
Though you have built (R)houses of cut stone,
Yet you will not live in them;
You have planted beautiful vineyards, yet you will (S)not drink their wine.
12 For I know your offenses are many and your sins are great,
You who are (T)hostile to the righteous and accept bribes,
And [h]turn away the poor from justice at the [i]gate.
13 Therefore at [j]such a time the prudent person (U)keeps quiet, because it is an evil time.
14 Seek good and not evil, so that you may live;
And so may the Lord God of armies be with you,
(V)Just as you have said!
15 (W)Hate evil, love good,
And establish justice in the [k]gate!
Perhaps the Lord God of armies
(X)Will be gracious to the (Y)remnant of Joseph.
Footnotes
- Amos 5:5 Lit seek
- Amos 5:5 Lit be
- Amos 5:6 Or in the house
- Amos 5:7 Lit they have thrown
- Amos 5:8 Lit And He darkened
- Amos 5:10 I.e., the place where court was held
- Amos 5:11 Or tax
- Amos 5:12 Lit they turn
- Amos 5:12 I.e., the place where court was held
- Amos 5:13 Lit that time
- Amos 5:15 I.e., the place where court was held
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