57 Heb “I hate”; “I despise.”
58 Heb “I will not smell.” These verses are full of vivid descriptions of the Lord’s total rejection of Israelite worship. In the first half of this verse two verbs are used together for emphasis. Here the verb alludes to the sense of smell, a fitting observation since offerings would have been burned on the altar ideally to provide a sweet aroma to God (see, e.g., Lev 1:9, 13, 17; Num 29:36). Other senses that are mentioned include sight and hearing in vv. 22–23.
59 Heb “burnt offerings and your grain offerings.”
60 Heb “Peace offering[s], your fattened calves, I will not look at.”
61 In this verse the second person suffixes are singular and not plural like they are in vv. 21–22 and vv. 25–27. Some have suggested that perhaps a specific individual or group within the nation is in view.
62 The Hebrew word probably refers to “harps” (, , ) or “lutes” ().
63 Traditionally, “righteousness.”
64 Heb “Did you bring me …?” This rhetorical question expects a negative answer. The point seems to be this: Since sacrifices did not characterize God’s relationship with Israel during the nation’s formative years, the people should not consider them to be so fundamental. The Lord places a higher priority on justice than he does on empty ritual. Like Jer 7:22–23, this passage seems to contradict the Pentateuchal accounts that indicate Israel did offer sacrifices during the wilderness period. It is likely that both Amos and Jeremiah overstate the case to emphasize the relative insignificance of sacrifices in comparison to weightier matters of the covenant. See R. de Vaux, Ancient Israel, 428.
65 Heb “house.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“I hate, I despise your feasts,

and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,

I will not accept them;

and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,

I will not look upon them.

Take away from me the noise of your songs;

to the melody of your harps I will not listen.

But let justice roll down like waters,

and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

“Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“I hate, I despise your religious festivals;

your assemblies are a stench to me.

Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,

I will not accept them.

Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,

I will have no regard for them.

Away with the noise of your songs!

I will not listen to the music of your harps.

But let justice roll on like a river,

righteousness like a never-failing stream!

“Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings

forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?

CSBChristian Standard Bible

I hate, I despise, your feasts!

I can’t stand the stench

of your solemn assemblies.

Even if you offer me

your burnt offerings and grain offerings,

I will not accept them;

I will have no regard

for your fellowship offerings of fattened cattle.

Take away from me the noise of your songs!

I will not listen to the music of your harps.

But let justice flow like water,

and righteousness, like an unfailing stream.

“House of Israel, was it sacrifices and grain offerings that you presented to me during the forty years in the wilderness?

NLTNew Living Translation

“I hate all your show and pretense—

the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.

I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings.

I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings.

Away with your noisy hymns of praise!

I will not listen to the music of your harps.

Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice,

an endless river of righteous living.

“Was it to me you were bringing sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, Israel?

“I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your assemblies. Yes, even if you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them, and I will not look at the fellowship offerings of your fattened animals. Remove from me the noise of your songs, and I do not want to hear the melody of your harps! But let justice roll on like the water, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings those forty years in the desert, O house of Israel?

KJV 1900King James Version

I hate, I despise your feast days,

And I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.

Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them:

Neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.

Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs;

For I will not hear the melody of thy viols.

But let judgment run down as waters,

And righteousness as a mighty stream.

Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?

Public Domain

Amos 5:21–25

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Footnotes

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

NIVNew International Version (2011)

CSBChristian Standard Bible

NLTNew Living Translation

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

KJV 1900King James Version