Amos 5:7-17

7For those who turn justice into wormwood,

And throw righteousness to the earth.”

8He who made the Pleiades and Orion,

And changes deep darkness into morning,

Who also darkens day into night,

Who calls for the waters of the sea

And pours them out on the surface of the earth,

The Lord is His name.

9It is He who makes destruction flash upon the strong,

So that destruction comes upon the fortress.

10They hate him who rebukes in the gate,

And they despise him who speaks with integrity.

11Therefore because you impose heavy rent on the poor

And take a tribute of grain from them,

Though you have built houses of cut stone,

Yet you will not live in them;

You have planted beautiful vineyards, yet you will not drink their wine.

12For I know your offenses are many and your sins are great,

You who are hostile to the righteous and accept bribes,

And turn away the poor from justice at the gate.

13Therefore at such a time the prudent person keeps quiet, because it is an evil time.

14Seek good and not evil, so that you may live;

And so may the Lord God of armies be with you,

Just as you have said!

15Hate evil, love good,

And establish justice in the gate!

Perhaps the Lord God of armies

Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

¹⁶Therefore this is what the Lord God of armies, the Lord says:

“There is mourning in all the public squares,

And in all the streets they say, ‘Oh no! Oh no!’

They also call the farmer to mourning

And professional mourners to mourning rites.

17“And in all the vineyards there is mourning,

Because I will pass through the midst of you,” says the Lord.