10 Heb “those who push away a day of disaster.”
11 Heb “you bring near a seat of violence.” The precise meaning of the Hebrew term שֶׁבֶת (shevet, “seat, sitting”) is unclear in this context. The translation assumes that it refers to a throne from which violence (in the person of the oppressive leaders) reigns. Another option is that the expression refers not to the leaders’ oppressive rule, but to the coming judgment when violence will overtake the nation in the person of enemy invaders.
12 Heb “beds of ivory.”
13 The meaning of the Hebrew verb פָּרַט (parat), which occurs only here in the OT, is unclear. Some translate “strum,” “pluck,” or “improvise.”
14 Heb “upon the mouth of,” that is, “according to.”
15 The stringed instruments mentioned here are probably harps (cf. , ) or lutes (cf. ).
16 The meaning of the Hebrew phrase חָשְׁבוּ לָהֶם (khoshvu lahem) is uncertain. Various options include: (1) “they think their musical instruments are like David’s”; (2) “they consider themselves musicians like David”; (3) “they esteem musical instruments highly like David”; (4) “they improvise [new songs] for themselves [on] instruments like David”; (5) “they invent musical instruments like David.” However, the most commonly accepted interpretation is that given in the translation (see S. M. Paul, Amos [Hermeneia], ).
17 Perhaps some religious rite is in view, or the size of the bowls is emphasized (i.e., bowls as large as sacrificial bowls).
18 Heb “with the best of oils they anoint [themselves].”
19 Or “not sickened by.”
20 The ruin of Joseph may refer to the societal disintegration in Israel, or to the effects of the impending judgment.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

O you who put far away the day of disaster

and bring near the seat of violence?

“Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory

and stretch themselves out on their couches,

and eat lambs from the flock

and calves from the midst of the stall,

who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp

and like David invent for themselves instruments of music,

who drink wine in bowls

and anoint themselves with the finest oils,

but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!

NIVNew International Version (2011)

You put off the day of disaster

and bring near a reign of terror.

You lie on beds adorned with ivory

and lounge on your couches.

You dine on choice lambs

and fattened calves.

You strum away on your harps like David

and improvise on musical instruments.

You drink wine by the bowlful

and use the finest lotions,

but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

You dismiss any thought of the evil day

and bring in a reign of violence.

They lie on beds inlaid with ivory,

sprawled out on their couches,

and dine on lambs from the flock

and calves from the stall.

They improvise songs to the sound of the harp

and invent their own musical instruments like David.

They drink wine by the bowlful

and anoint themselves with the finest oils

but do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.

NLTNew Living Translation

You push away every thought of coming disaster,

but your actions only bring the day of judgment closer.

How terrible for you who sprawl on ivory beds

and lounge on your couches,

eating the meat of tender lambs from the flock

and of choice calves fattened in the stall.

You sing trivial songs to the sound of the harp

and fancy yourselves to be great musicians like David.

You drink wine by the bowlful

and perfume yourselves with fragrant lotions.

You care nothing about the ruin of your nation.

You that put off the day of disaster and bring near a reign of violence! Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory and lounge on their couches, and those eating young rams from the sheep and goats, and bull-calves from the middle of the animal stall. Alas for those who sing to the tune of the harp; like David they improvise on instruments of music. Alas for those who drink from sprinkling bowls of wine and anoint themselves with the best of olive oils and are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph.

KJV 1900King James Version

Ye that put far away the evil day,

And cause the seat of violence to come near;

That lie upon beds of ivory,

And stretch themselves upon their couches,

And eat the lambs out of the flock,

And the calves out of the midst of the stall;

That chant to the sound of the viol,

And invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;

That drink wine in bowls,

And anoint themselves with the chief ointments:

But they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

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Amos 6:3–6

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Footnotes