Amos 5:18–20

The Lord Demands Justice

5:18 Woe53 to those who wish for the day of the Lord!

Why do you want the Lord’s day of judgment to come?

It will bring darkness, not light.

5:19 Disaster will be inescapable,54

as if a man ran from a lion only to meet a bear,

then escaped55 into a house,

leaned his hand against the wall,

and was bitten by a poisonous snake.

5:20 Don’t you realize the Lord’s day of judgment will bring56 darkness, not light—

gloomy blackness, not bright light?

53	tn The term הוֹי (hoy, “woe”) was used when mourning the dead (see the note on the word “dead” in 5:16). The prophet here either engages in role playing and mourns the death of the nation in advance or sarcastically taunts those who hold to this misplaced belief.
54	tn The words “Disaster will be inescapable” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
55	tn Heb “went” (so KJV, NRSV).
56	tn Heb “Will not the day of the Lord be.”