Amos 4:8
◄  Amos 4:8  ►
New International Version (©2011)
People staggered from town to town for water but did not get enough to drink, yet you have not returned to me," declares the LORD.

New Living Translation (©2007)
People staggered from town to town looking for water, but there was never enough. But still you would not return to me," says the LORD.

English Standard Version (©2001)
so two or three cities would wander to another city to drink water, and would not be satisfied; yet you did not return to me,” declares the LORD.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"So two or three cities would stagger to another city to drink water, But would not be satisfied; Yet you have not returned to Me," declares the LORD.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Two or three cities staggered to another city to drink water but were not satisfied, yet you did not return to Me. This is the LORD's declaration.

International Standard Version (©2012)
So the people of two or three cities staggered away to another city in order to obtain drinking water, but you have not returned to me," declares the LORD.

NET Bible (©2006)
People from two or three cities staggered into one city to get water, but remained thirsty. Still you did not come back to me." The LORD is speaking!

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
So people from two or three cities staggered as they walked to another city in order to get a drink of water. But they couldn't get enough. And you still didn't return to me, declares the LORD.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
So two or three cities wandered to one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have you not returned unto me, says the LORD.

American King James Version
So two or three cities wandered to one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have you not returned to me, said the LORD.

American Standard Version
So two or three cities wandered unto one city to drink water, and were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And two and three cities went to one city to drink water, and were not filled: yet you returned not to me, saith the Lord.

Darby Bible Translation
And two, three, cities wandered unto one city, to drink water, and were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah.

English Revised Version
So two or three cities wandered unto one city to drink water, and were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
So two or three cities wandered to one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned to me, saith the LORD.

World English Bible
So two or three cities staggered to one city to drink water, and were not satisfied: yet you haven't returned to me," says Yahweh.

Young's Literal Translation
And wandered have two or three cities, Unto the same city to drink water, And they are not satisfied, And ye have not turned back unto Me, An affirmation of Jehovah.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:6-13 See the folly of carnal hearts; they wander from one creature to another, seeking for something to satisfy, and labour for that which satisfies not; yet, after all, they will not incline their ear to Him in whom they might find all they can want. Preaching the gospel is as rain, and every thing withers where this rain is wanting. It were well if people were as wise for their souls as they are for their bodies; and, when they have not this rain near, would go and seek it where it is to be had. As the Israelites persisted in rebellion and idolatry, the Lord was coming against them as an adversary. Ere long, we must meet our God in judgment; but we shall not be able to stand before him, if he tries us according to our doings. If we would prepare to meet our God with comfort, at the awful period of his coming, we must now meet him in Christ Jesus, the eternal Son of the Father, who came to save lost sinners. We must seek him while he is to be found.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 8. - This want of rain produced great dearth of water to drink, and persons had to go long distances to procure supplies. Wandered; literally trembled, staggered, as spent and exhausted by thirst. The word is used in Psalm 59:15; Psalm 109:10. The supply thus used was soon exhausted, and brought no permanent relief.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water,.... Two or three cities, that is, the inhabitants of them, being without water, went up and down in quest of any city or place where they could find water for themselves and cattle to drink:

but they were not satisfied; could not get enough for their present use and much less to carry back with them to supply them for any length of time; such a scarcity there was of it in other parts; see 1 Kings 18:5;

yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord; this had no more effect upon them than the other to relinquish their former courses, and return unto the Lord by humiliation and repentance.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

8. three cities wandered—that is, the inhabitants of three cities (compare Jer 14:1-6). Grotius explains this verse and Am 4:7, "The rain fell on neighboring countries, but not on Israel, which marked the drought to be, not accidental, but the special judgment of God." The Israelites were obliged to leave their cities and homes to seek water at a distance [Calvin].

Amos 4:8 Parallel Commentaries

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Punishment Brings No Repentance
…7And also I have withheld the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain on one city, and caused it not to rain on another city: one piece was rained on, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. 8So two or three cities wandered to one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have you not returned to me, said the LORD. 9I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have you not returned to me, said the LORD. …

1 Kings 18:5 Ahab had said to Obadiah, "Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive so we will not have to kill any of our animals."
Jeremiah 3:7 I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it.
Jeremiah 14:4 The ground is cracked because there is no rain in the land; the farmers are dismayed and cover their heads.
Ezekiel 4:16 He then said to me: "Son of man, I am about to cut off the food supply in Jerusalem. The people will eat rationed food in anxiety and drink rationed water in despair,
Ezekiel 4:17 for food and water will be scarce. They will be appalled at the sight of each other and will waste away because of their sin.
Haggai 1:6 You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."