KJ3 Literal Translation
Amos 5
A lamentation for Israel. An exhortation to repentance. Jehovah rejects their hypocrisy.
1Hear this word which I am lifting up against you, a dirge, O house of Israel.
2The virgin of Israel has fallen, and will not rise up again; she lies forsaken on her land; there is no one raising her up.
3For so says the Lord Jehovah, The city that goes out by a thousand shall have a hundred left. And that which goes out by a hundred shall have ten left in the house of Israel.
4For so says Jehovah to the house of Israel, Seek Me, and live.
5But do not seek Beth-el, and do not enter Gilgal, and do not cross over to Beer-sheba; for going Gilgal shall go into exile, and Beth-el shall be for nothing.
6Seek Jehovah, and live, lest He rush like a fire on the house of Joseph, and devour it, and no one is quenching it for Bethel.
7He abandoned those who turn judgment into wormwood, and righteousness to the earth.
8He who created the Pleiades and Orion, and turns the deep darkness into the morning, and darkens the day into night; who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the face of the earth, Jehovah is His name;
9who flashes out with destruction on the strong one, and destruction comes on the fortress.
10They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they detest him who speaks uprightly.
11So, because of your trampling on the poor ones, and you take tribute of grain from him, you have built houses of hewn stones, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted desirable vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine.
12For I know your transgressions are many, and numerous are your sins: oppressing the righteous ones, taking of a bribe, and turning aside the needy ones in the gate.
13So he acting wisely shall keep silent in that time, for it is an evil time.
14Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and if it be so Jehovah the God of Hosts will be with you, as you have said.
15Hate evil, and love good, and set up judgment in the gate. It may be Jehovah the God of Hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
16So Jehovah, the God of Hosts, the Lord, says this: Wailing shall be in all open squares, and they shall say in all the outside places, Alas! Alas! And they shall call the farmer to the mourning, and those knowing wailing to lamentation.
17And wailing shall be in all vineyards, for I will pass in your midst, says Jehovah.
18Woe to those desiring the day of Jehovah! What is this for you? The day of Jehovah is darkness, and not light.
19As when a man fled before a lion, and the bear met him. Or he goes into the house and leans his hand against the wall, and a snake bites him.
20Is not the day of Jehovah darkness, and not light; even very dark, and not any brightness in it?
21I hate, I reject your feast days; and I will not delight in your solemn assemblies.
22For though you offer Me burnt offerings and your food offerings, I will not be pleased; and not will I regard the peace offerings of your fat animals.
23Take away from Me the noise of your songs; and I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.
24But let judgment roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing torrent.
25Did you bring near sacrifices and food offerings to Me forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
26Yea, you have lifted up the booth of your king, and Kiyyun, your images, the star of your gods which you made for yourselves!
27And I will exile you beyond Damascus, says Jehovah; the God of Hosts is His name.
Read Amos 5 in the interactive reader with the Hebrew and Greek side by side, audio narration, and the TWOT dictionary.
Open in the reader