Amos 5:10-27 ▼

10 They hate the poor at the gates, and they abhor him who speaks uprightly.

11 Therefore because you have beaten on the head of the poor and have taken from him the choicest gifts; the houses of hewn stone which you have built, you shall not dwell in; and from the pleasant vineyards which you have planted, you shall not drink wine.

12 For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great; you oppress the just, you take a bribe, and you turn aside the cause of the poor in the gate from their right.

13 Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

14 Seek good and not evil that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as you have spoken.

15 Hate the evil and love the good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

16 Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts: In all streets there shall be wailing; and in all broad places they shall say, Alas! alas! and they shall call the farmers to mourning, and those who are skillful in lamentation to wailing.

17 And in all vineyards shall be wailing; for I will pass through the midst of you, says the LORD.

18 Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? The day of the LORD? For it is a day of darkness and not light.

19 As when a man fled from a lion and a bear met him; or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall and a serpent bit him.

20 Such is the day of the LORD; it is darkness and not light; yea, it is a day of thick darkness and no brightness is in it.

21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell the savor of your solemn assemblies.

22 Though you offer me your burnt offerings and your meal offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.

23 Take away from me the noise of your songs; for I will not hear the melody of your harps.

24 But let justice run down like waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

25 Did you offer to me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness for forty years, O house of Israel?

26 But you carried the tabernacle of Malcom and Chiun your idol, the star which you made a god to yourselves.

27 Therefore I will cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, says the LORD whose name is the God of hosts.