1 Hear ye this word which I take up against you, [even] a lamentation, O house of Israel.
2 The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; [there is] none to raise her up.
3 For thus saith the Lord GOD; The city that went out [by] a thousand shall leave an hundred, and that which went forth [by] an hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel.
4 For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:
5 But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought.
6 Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour [it], and [there be] none to quench [it] in Bethel.
7 Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,
8 [Seek him] that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD [is] his name:
9 That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress.
10 They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.
11 Forasmuch therefore as your treading [is] upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.
12 For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate [from their right].
13 Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it [is] an evil time.
14 Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.
15 Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
16 Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; Wailing [shall be] in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing.
17 And in all vineyards [shall be] wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD.
18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end [is] it for you? the day of the LORD [is] darkness, and not light.
19 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.
20 [Shall] not the day of the LORD [be] darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?
21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
22 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept [them]: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.
23 Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
24 But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
25 Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?
26 But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.
27 Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD, whose name [is] The God of hosts.
Summary of Amos Chapter 5
Amos Chapter 5 presents a poignant call for repentance and a critique of the social injustices prevalent in Israel during the time of the prophet Amos. The chapter is structured around a lamentation for Israel, a call to seek the Lord, and a denunciation of empty religious practices.
Key Themes
- Lamentation and Mourning: The chapter opens with a lament for Israel, highlighting the impending judgment and the fate of the nation.
- Call to Repentance: Amos urges the people to seek the Lord and live, emphasizing the need for genuine worship and ethical living.
- Condemnation of Injustice: The text criticizes the social injustices and corruption among the leaders and wealthy, calling out their exploitation of the poor.
- Rejection of Empty Rituals: Amos denounces the people’s religious practices that lack sincerity and true devotion to God.
Detailed Analysis
Lamentation for Israel (Verses 1-3)
The chapter begins with a funeral dirge for Israel, symbolizing the nation’s spiritual death. Amos calls for the house of Israel to hear this lament, indicating the seriousness of the situation. The imagery of a virgin fallen is used to express the loss of purity and integrity within the nation.
- The mention of a remnant suggests that not all hope is lost; there will be survivors who seek the Lord.
- The prophecy of a great fall emphasizes the consequences of Israel’s unfaithfulness.
Call to Seek the Lord (Verses 4-6)
Amos urges the people to seek the Lord and live, contrasting the life that comes from true devotion with the death that results from idolatry and sin. This section emphasizes the necessity of returning to God to avoid judgment.
- The phrase “seek me and live” highlights the relationship between seeking God and receiving life.
- Amos warns against the worship of Bethel and Gilgal, places associated with idolatry, reinforcing the idea that true worship cannot be found in corrupted practices.
Condemnation of Injustice (Verses 7-13)
In this section, Amos condemns the leaders and wealthy for turning justice into bitterness and righteousness into wormwood. The prophet highlights the exploitation of the poor and the corrupt practices that have become normalized in society.
- Amos points out that the judicial system is failing, with those in power manipulating justice for their gain.
- The call for justice and righteousness underscores the ethical dimensions of faith, suggesting that true worship must be accompanied by social justice.
Rejection of Empty Rituals (Verses 14-17)
Amos criticizes the people’s religious rituals that lack sincerity. He emphasizes that God desires justice and righteousness over mere sacrifices and offerings.
- The repetition of “I hate, I despise” indicates God’s strong disapproval of their worship practices that do not reflect a true relationship with Him.
- The call to “let justice roll down like waters” serves as a powerful metaphor for the need for a flood of justice and righteousness in society.
Impending Judgment (Verses 18-27)
The chapter concludes with a warning about the Day of the Lord, which is depicted as a time of darkness rather than light for those who have not repented. Amos warns that the people’s false sense of security will lead to their downfall.
- The imagery of darkness and gloom serves to illustrate the severity of the impending judgment.
- Amos calls for a genuine return to God, emphasizing that mere rituals will not suffice in the face of divine judgment.
Conclusion
Amos Chapter 5 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of genuine faith, social justice, and the necessity of repentance. The chapter challenges readers to reflect on their own practices of worship and their commitment to justice in society.
