Amos 5:11-15

Seek the Lord and Live

11 Therefore because you z trample on 1 the poor
and you exact taxes of grain from him,
a you have built houses of hewn stone,
but you shall not dwell in them;
a you have planted pleasant vineyards,
but you shall not drink their wine.
 12 For I know how many are your transgressions
and how great are your sins -
you who afflict the righteous, who b take a bribe,
and c turn aside the needy x in the gate.
 13 Therefore he who is prudent will d keep silent in such a time,
e for it is an evil time.

14 f Seek good, and not evil,
that you may live;
and so the Lord, g the God of hosts, will be with you,
as you have said.
 15 h Hate evil, and love good,
and establish justice x in the gate;
i it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts,
will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

  1. Cross References
    James 2:6
    But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?
  2. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 28:30
    You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall ravish her. You shall build a house, but you shall not dwell in it. You shall plant a vineyard, but you shall not enjoy its fruit.
    Deuteronomy 28:39
    You shall plant vineyards and dress them, but you shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes, for the worm shall eat them.
    Micah 6:15
    You shall sow, but not reap; you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil; you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine.
    Zephaniah 1:13
    Their goods shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them.
  3. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 28:30
    You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall ravish her. You shall build a house, but you shall not dwell in it. You shall plant a vineyard, but you shall not enjoy its fruit.
    Deuteronomy 28:39
    You shall plant vineyards and dress them, but you shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes, for the worm shall eat them.
    Micah 6:15
    You shall sow, but not reap; you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil; you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine.
    Zephaniah 1:13
    Their goods shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them.
  4. Cross References
    1 Samuel 8:3
    Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.
    1 Samuel 12:3
    Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you.
    Psalms 26:10
    In whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes.
  5. Cross References
    Amos 2:7
    Those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth and turn aside the way of the afflicted; a man and his father go in to the same girl, so that my holy name is profaned.
    Isaiah 29:21
    Who by a word make a man out to be an offender, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right.
  6. Cross References
    Amos 5:10
    They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth.
  7. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 3:7
    A time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.
  8. Cross References
    Micah 2:3
    Therefore thus says the Lord : behold, against this family I am devising disaster, from which you cannot remove your necks, and you shall not walk haughtily, for it will be a time of disaster.
  9. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 30:15
    See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.
    Deuteronomy 30:19
    I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.
    Zephaniah 2:3
    Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord.
  10. Cross References
    Amos 3:13
    Hear, and testify against the house of Jacob," declares the Lord God, the God of hosts.
  11. Cross References
    Psalms 97:10
    O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
    Romans 12:9
    Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
  12. Cross References
    Amos 5:10
    They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth.
  13. Cross References
    Joel 2:14
    Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God?
    Exodus 32:30
    The next day Moses said to the people, "You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the Lord ; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.