Amos 5

1Hear this word that I take up over you, a lamentation, house of Israel.

2The virgin Israel has fallen; she will not rise again. Forsaken on her land, there is none to raise her.

3For thus says the Lord Yahweh: The city that goes forth a thousand shall leave a hundred, and that which goes forth a hundred shall leave ten to the house of Israel.

4For thus says Yahweh to the house of Israel: Seek me, and live.

5Do not seek Bethel, nor go to Gilgal, nor pass through Beersheba, for Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will become nothing.

6Seek Yahweh and live, lest he rush forth like fire in the house of Joseph and consume it, with none to extinguish in Bethel.

7You who turn justice to wormwood and cast righteousness down to the earth.

8He who makes Pleiades and Orion, turns shadow of death to morning and darkens day into night, calls the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the earth—his name is Yahweh.

9who strengthens destruction against the strong, so that destruction comes against the fortress.

10They hate the one who rebukes in the gate, and they abhor the one who speaks perfectly.

11Therefore, because you trample the poor and take burdens of grain from him, you have built houses of hewn stone but will not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards but will not drink their wine.

12For I know your many transgressions and your mighty sins—you who oppress the righteous, take bribes, and turn aside the needy at the gate.

13Therefore the prudent keeps silent at that time, for it is an evil time.

14Seek good, not evil, that you may live; so may Yahweh God of hosts be with you, as you have said.

15Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the gate—perhaps Yahweh, God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

16Therefore thus says Yahweh, God of Hosts, the Lord: Wailing will be in all the squares, and they will say in all the streets, "Alas! Alas!" They will call the farmer to mourning and those skilled in lamentation to wailing.

17And wailing will be in all vineyards, for I will pass through your midst, says Yahweh.

18Woe to those who crave the day of Yahweh! Why do you want this day of Yahweh? It is darkness, not light.

19As if a man fled from a lion and a bear encountered him, or entered the house and rested his hand against the wall, and a serpent bit him.

20Will not the day of Yahweh be darkness and not light, even gloom and no brightness in it?

21I hate and reject your feasts, and I will not accept your solemn assemblies.

22Even though you offer me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor regard the peace offerings of your fatlings.

23Remove from me the tumult of your songs and the melody of your harps; I will not hear.

24Let justice roll like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.

25Did you offer sacrifices and offerings to me for forty years in the wilderness, house of Israel?

26You carried the tabernacle of your Molech and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which you made for yourselves.

27I will exile you beyond Damascus, says Yahweh—God of Hosts is his name.