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], ).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“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,

NIVNew International Version (2011)

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.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

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.

NLTNew Living Translation

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.

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.

KJV 1900King James Version

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;

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Amos 6:4–5

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