Amos 5:18-27 ▼

18 Woe (judgment is coming) to you who desire the day of the LORD [expecting rescue from the Gentiles]! Why would you want the day of the LORD? It is darkness (judgment) and not light [and rescue and prosperity];

19 It is as if a man runs from a lion [escaping one danger] And a bear meets him [so he dies anyway], Or goes home, and leans with his hand against the wall And a snake bites him.

20 Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, instead of light, Even very dark with no brightness in it?

21 “I hate, I despise and reject your [sacred] feasts, And I do not take delight in your solemn assemblies.

22 “Even though you offer Me your burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fattened animals.

23 “Take the noise of your songs away from Me [they are an irritation]! I shall not even listen to the melody of your harps.

24 “But let justice run down like waters And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream [flowing abundantly].

25 “Did you bring Me sacrifices and grain offerings during those forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? [Certainly not!]

26 You carried along your king Sikkuth and Kayyun [your man-made gods of Saturn], your images of your star-god which you made for yourselves [but you brought Me none of the appointed sacrifices].

27 Therefore, I will send you to go into exile far beyond Damascus,” says the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts.