Amos 5

comments section 5:1-17
comments 5:1
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1 Hear this message that I am raising over you,
a funeral song, house of Israel:

comments 5:2
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2 Fallen, never to rise again,
is the Maid of Israel;
left on her land,
with no one to raise her.

comments 5:3
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3 For thus says my Lord Adonai:
The city marches out a thousand
    a hundred are left,
it marches out a hundred
    ten are left,
      for the house of Israel.

comments unit 5:4-6
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4 For thus says Adonai to the house of Israel:
Seek me and live;
5 but don't seek Bethel,
   and don't enter Gilgal
    nor cross to Beer-sheba;
   for Gilgal will surely be exiled,
and Bethel will become idolatry.
6 Seek Adonai and live:
   lest he hurry like fire.
    House of Joseph.
And it consumes, with no one to put it out for Bethel.

comments unit 7
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7 Turning justice to wormwood,
and abandoning righteousness on the land!

comments unit 5:8-9
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8 The one who made the Pleiades and Orion,
   and turns deathly darkness into dawn,
    and darkens day into night,
who calls the waters of the sea,
   and pours them out across the land,
       Adonai is his name!
9 The one who flashes destruction against the stronghold,
   so that destruction enters the fortress.

comments unit 5:10-13
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10 They hate anyone who reproves in the gate,
and they detest someone who speaks with integrity.

comments 5:11-12
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11 Therefore, since you trample on the poor
   and take wheat as a `present' from him,
you have built houses of cut stone,
   but you won't inhabit them;
you have planted pleasant vineyards,
   but you won't drink their wine.
12 For I know your numerous rebellions,
   and your `mighty' sins-
    oppressing the righteous, taking bribes,
     they push aside the needy in the gate.

comments 5:13
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13 So, at a time like this a sensible person keeps quiet;
for it is an evil time.

comments unit 5:14-15
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14 Seek good, not evil,
    that you may live;
   and so Adonai, God of armies,
    may be with you, as you have said.

15 Hate evil, love good,
    set up justice in the gate;
   it may be that Adonai, God of armies,
    will be gracious to the remains of Joseph.

comments unit 5:16-17
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16 Therefore thus says Adonai, God of armies, my Lord:
In all the squares - wailing;
in all the streets they'll say, "Alas! Alas!"
and call the farmers to mourning,
   those skilled in wails, to wailing;
17 in all the vineyards - wailing,
    for I will pass among you.
       says Adonai.

comments unit 5:18-20
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18 Alas to you who desire Adonai's day!
What is Adonai's day to you?
It's darkness, not light!

comments 5:19

19 Like someone escaping from a lion,
    who meets a bear;
and entering the house,
  leans a hand on the wall,
      and a snake bites him.
20 Isn't Adonai's day darkness, not light,
    gloom with no brightness in it?

comments unit 5:21-23
Amos Today: "Bah Humbug!"
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21 I hate, I reject your festivals,
    I will not stomach your assemblies.
22 Even though you offer me burnt offerings and your grain offerings,
    I won't accept them;
and the peace offerings of your prize beasts
    I won't approve.
23 Spare me the roar of your songs;
    I won't listen to the music of your guitars.

comments unit 5:24
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24 But let justice roll like water,
and righteousness as a permanent torrent.

comments unit 5:25-27
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25 Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings
    the forty years in the wilderness,
     house of Israel?
26 But you will take up Sikkuth, your king,
    and Kiyun, your idol,
     your star-gods, which you made for yourselves;
27 I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,
       says Adonai - God of armies - is his name.

Amos 6

Am 6:1-6 & Is 5:11-13

comments unit 6:1-7

1 Alas for those who are comfortable in Zion,
secure on Mount Samaria,
   notables of the first of nations,
they come to them in Israel's house.
2 Cross over to Calneh, and see;
from there go to great Hamath;
   then go down to Philistine Gath.
Are you better than these kingdoms?
   Or is their territory greater than your territory?
3 Pushing away the evil day,
   you bring near the reign of violence.

Because of the size of files the text of Amos has been broken into sections:

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9

This page is part of the Hypertext Bible Commentary - Amos , if you have reached it as a standalone page, to view it in context, go to www.bible.gen.nz
© Tim Bulkeley, 1996-2005, Tim Bulkeley. All rights reserved.