Amos 5:8–17

8 The one who made the Pleiades and Orion,ak

who turns darknessA into dawnal

and darkens day into night,am

who summons the water of the seaan

and pours it out over the surface of the earthao—

the Lord is his name.ap

9 He brings destructionB on the strong,C,aq

and it falls on the fortress.ar

10 They hate the one who convicts the guiltyas

at the city gate,

and they despiseat the one who speaks with integrity.

11 Therefore, because you trample on the poorau

and exact a grain tax from him,

you will never live in the houses of cut stoneav

you have built;

you will never drink the wine

from the lush vineyards

you have planted.aw

12 For I know your crimes are many

and your sins innumerable.

They oppress the righteous,a take a bribe,

and deprive the poor of justiceb at the city gates.

13 Therefore, those who have insight will keep silentD,c

at such a time,

for the days are evil.

14 Pursue good and not evil

so that you may live,

and the Lord, the God of Armies,

will be with you

as you have claimed.d

15 Hate evil and love good;e

establish justice at the city gate.f

Perhaps the Lord, the God of Armies, will be graciousg

to the remnant of Joseph.h

16 Therefore the Lord, the God of Armies, the Lord, says:

There will be wailing in all the public squares;i

they will cry out in anguishA in all the streets.

The farmer will be called on to mourn,j

and professional mournersB,k to wail.

17 There will be wailing in all the vineyards,l

for I will pass among you.m

The Lord has spoken.