Amos 5:16-27 ▼

16 Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of the Heavenly Armies, the Lord, says: 'There will be dirges in all of the streets; and in all of the highways they will cry out in anguish. They will call the farmer to mourning and those who lament to grieve.

17 And in all of the vineyards there will be mourning when I pass through your midst,' says the LORD.|

18 |Woe to those who are craving the Day of the LORD! How is it to your benefit, this Day of the LORD? It's a day of darkness to you, and not light.

19 It will be like a man who runs from a lion, only to encounter a bear; or who comes home, leans his hand against a wall, and a serpent bites him!

20 Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness, and not light— pitch black at that, without a ray of sunshine?|

21 |I hate—I despise—your festival days, and your solemn convocations stink.

22 And if you send up burnt offerings to me as well as your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor will I consider your peace offerings of fattened cattle.

23 Spare me your noisy singing— I will not listen to your musical instruments.

24 |But let justice roll on like many waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing river.

25 |Was it to me that you brought offerings and gifts in the desert for 40 years, house of Israel?

26 And you carried the tent of your king — and Saturn, your star god idols that you crafted for yourselves.

27 So I will cause you to be taken captive beyond Damascus,| says the LORD, whose name is God of the Heavenly Armies.