Amos - Chapter 5

1. Hearken to this word which I take up for a lamentation over you, O house of Israel.

2. The virgin of Israel has fallen and shall not continue to rise; she is spread out on her soil, there is none to raise her up.

3. For so said the Lord God: The city that gives forth a thousand shall remain with a hundred, and the one that gives forth a hundred shall remain with ten, of the house of Israel.

4. For so said the Lord to the house of Israel; Seek Me and live.

5. But seek not Bethel, neither come to Gilgal, nor pass Beersheba, for Gilgal shall be exiled, and Bethel shall become nought.

6. Seek the Lord and live, lest He break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it consume with none to quench it for Bethel.

7. Those who turn justice to wormwood, and who leave righteousness on the ground.

8. He Who made the Pleiades and Orion and turns darkness into morning, and day He darkens as night; He Who calls the water of the sea and pours it out on the face of the earth, the Lord is His Name.

9. Who strengthens the robbed upon the strong, and the robbed shall come upon a fortress.

10. They hated him who reproves them in the gate, and they despise him who speaks uprightly.

11. Therefore, because you have trodden on poor, and the burden of grain you take from him, houses of hewn stone you have built but you shall not dwell therein, precious vineyards you have planted, but you shall not drink their wine.

12. For I know that your transgressions are many, and your sins are mighty; you who oppress the just, taking ransom, and turning aside the needy in the gate.

13. Therefore, the prudent at that time shall keep silent, for it is a time of evil.

14. Seek good and not evil in order that you live, and so the Lord God of Hosts shall be with you, as you said.

15. Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; perhaps the Lord God of Hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

16. Therefore, so said the Lord God of Hosts, the Lord: In all the city squares lamentation, and in all streets they shall say, "Alas! Alas!" and they shall meet the plowman with mourning and lamentation with those who know to wail.

17. And in all vineyards [there shall be] lamentation, for I will pass in your midst, said the Lord.

18. Woe to those who desire the day of the Lord. Why would you have the day of the Lord? It is darkness, and not light.

19. As if a man flees from the lion and the bear meets him, and he comes to the house and leans his hand on the wall, and a serpent bites him.

20. Is not the day of the Lord darkness and not light, even very dark, with no brightness in it.

21. I hate, I reject your festivals, and I will not smell [the sacrifices of] your assemblies.

22. For if you offer up to Me burnt- offerings and your meal-offerings, I will not accept [them], and the peace offerings of your fattened cattle I will not regard.

23. Take away from Me the din of your songs, and the music of your lutes I will not hear.

24. And justice shall be revealed like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.

25. Did you offer Me sacrifices and meal-offerings in the desert forty years, O house of Israel?

26. And you shall carry Siccuth your king and Chiun your images, Kochav your god, which you have made for yourselves.

27. And I will exile you beyond Damascus, said He Whose Name is the Lord God of Hosts.