‏ Amos 5

Mourn and Turn Back to the Lord

1People of Israel, listen to the Lord’s message. Hear my song of sadness about you. I say,

2“The people of Israel have fallen.
They will never get up again.
They are deserted in their own land.
No one can lift them up.”
3Here is what the Lord and King says to Israel.

“A thousand soldiers will march out from a city.
But only a hundred will return.
A hundred soldiers will march out from a town.
But only ten will come back.”
4The Lord speaks to the people of Israel. He says,

“Look to me and live.
5Do not look to Bethel.
Do not go to Gilgal.
Do not travel to Beersheba.
The people of Gilgal will be taken away as prisoners.
Nothing will be left of Bethel.”

6Israel, look to the Lord and live.
If you don’t, he will sweep through
the tribes of Joseph like a fire.
It will burn everything up.
And Bethel won’t have anyone to put it out.

7There are people among you who turn what is fair into something bitter.
They throw down to the ground what is right.
8The Lord made the Pleiades and Orion.
He turns midnight into sunrise.
He makes the day fade into night.
He sends for the waters in the clouds.
Then he pours them out on the surface of the land.
His name is the Lord.
9With a flash of light he destroys places of safety.
He tears down cities
that have high walls around them.
10There are people among you who hate anyone who stands for justice in court.
They hate those who tell the truth.

11You make poor people pay tax on their straw.
You also tax their grain.
So, even though you have built stone houses,
you won’t live in them.
You have planted fruitful vineyards.
But you won’t drink the wine they produce.
12I know how many crimes you have committed.
You have sinned far too much.

Among you are people who crush those who have done no wrong.
They accept money from people who want special favors.
They take away the rights of poor people in the courts.
13So those who are wise keep quiet in times like these.
That’s because the times are evil.

14Look to what is good, not to what is evil.
Then you will live.
And the Lord God who rules over all
will be with you,
just as you say he is.
15Hate evil and love good.
Do what is fair in the courts.
Perhaps the Lord God who rules over all
will have mercy on you.
After all, you are the only ones left
in the family line of Joseph.
16The Lord God rules over all. The Lord says,

“People will weep in all the streets.
They will be very sad in every market place.
Even farmers will be told to cry loudly.
People will mourn for the dead.
17Workers will cry in all the vineyards.
That’s because I will punish you,”
says the Lord.

The Day of the Lord Is Coming

18How terrible it will be for you
who long for the day of the Lord!
Why do you want it to come?
That day will be dark, not light.
19It will be like a man running away from a lion
only to meet a bear.
He enters his house and rests his hand on a wall
only to be bitten by a snake.
20The day of the Lord will be dark, not light.
It will be very black.
There won’t be a ray of sunlight anywhere.
21The Lord says,

“I hate your holy feasts.
I can’t stand them.
Your gatherings stink.
22You bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings.
But I will not accept them.
You bring your best friendship offerings.
But I will not even look at them.
23Take the noise of your songs away!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
24I want you to treat others fairly.
So let fair treatment roll on
just as a river does!
Always do what is right.
Let right living flow along
like a stream that never runs dry!

25“People of Israel, did you bring me sacrifices and offerings
for 40 years in the desert?
26Yes. But you have honored the place
where your king worshiped other gods.
You have carried the stands
the statues of your gods were on.
You have lifted up the banners
of the stars you worship as gods.
You made all those things for yourselves.
27So I will send you away
as prisoners beyond Damascus,”
says the Lord.
His name is God Who Rules Over All.