Amos 5:1-15 ▼

1 Hear this word which I take up for you as a funeral lament, O house of Israel:

2 She has fallen; she will not rise again— The virgin Israel. She lies abandoned on her land; There is none to raise her up.

3 For thus says Lord Yahweh, “The city which goes forth one thousand strong Will have one hundred left, And the one which goes forth one hundred strong Will have ten left to the house of Israel.”

4 For thus says Yahweh to the house of Israel, “Seek Me that you may live.

5 But do not seek Bethel, And do not come to Gilgal, Nor cross over to Beersheba; For Gilgal will certainly go into exile, And Bethel will become evil.

6 Seek Yahweh that you may live, Lest He come mightily like a fire, O house of Joseph, And it will consume with none to quench it for Bethel,

7 For those who overturn justice into wormwood And put righteousness down to the earth.”

8 He who made the Pleiades and Orion And overturns the shadow of death into morning, Who also darkens day into night, Who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the surface of the earth, Yahweh is His name.

9 It is He who flashes forth with devastation upon the strong So that devastation comes upon the fortification.

10 They hate him who reproves in the gate, And they abhor him who speaks with integrity.

11 Therefore because you impose heavy rent on the poor And take a tribute of grain from them, Though you have built houses of cut stone, Yet you will not live in them; You have planted desirable vineyards, yet you will not drink their wine.

12 For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are mighty, You who distress the righteous and take bribes And turn aside the needy in the gate.

13 Therefore at such a time the one with insight keeps silent, for it is an evil time.

14 Seek good and not evil, in order that you may live; And thus may Yahweh God of hosts be with you, Just as you have said!

15 Hate evil, love good, And set justice at the gate! Perhaps Yahweh God of hosts May be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.