51 Hear this word that I am bearing to you, A lamentation, O house of Israel: 2 'Fallen, not again to rise, hath the virgin of Israel, Left on her land—she hath no raiser up.' 3 For thus said the Lord Jehovah: The city that is going out a thousand, Doth leave an hundred, And that which is going out an hundred, Doth leave ten to the house of Israel.
4 For thus said Jehovah to the house of Israel: Seek ye Me, and live, 5 And seek not Beth-El, and Gilgal enter not, And Beer-Sheba pass not through, For Gilgal doth utterly remove, And Beth-El doth become vanity. 6 Seek ye Jehovah, and live, Lest He prosper as fire 'against' the house of Joseph, And it hath consumed, And there is no quencher for Beth-El. 7 Ye who are turning to wormwood judgment, And righteousness to the earth have put down, 8 The maker of Kimah and Kesil, And the turner to morning of death-shade, And day 'as' night He hath made dark, Who is calling to the waters of the sea, And poureth them on the face of the earth, Jehovah 'is' His name; 9 Who is brightening up the spoiled against the strong, And the spoiled against a fortress cometh. 10 They have hated a reprover in the gate, And a plain speaker they abominate. 11 Therefore, because of your trampling on the poor, And the tribute of corn ye take from him, Houses of hewn work ye have built, And ye do not dwell in them, Desirable vineyards ye have planted, And ye do not drink their wine. 12 For I have known—many 'are' your transgressions, And mighty your sins, Adversaries of the righteous, taking ransoms, And the needy in the gate ye turned aside. 13 Therefore is the wise at that time silent, For an evil time it 'is'. 14 Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live, And it is so; Jehovah, God of Hosts, 'is' with you, as ye said. 15 Hate evil, and love good, And set up judgment in the gate, It may be Jehovah, God of Hosts, doth pity the remnant of Joseph.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Amos 5:1-15
Commentary on Amos 5:1-6
(Read Amos 5:1-6)
The convincing, awakening word must be heard and heeded, as well as words of comfort and peace; for whether we hear or forbear, the word of God shall take effect. The Lord still proclaims mercy to men, but they often expect deliverance from such self-invented forms as make their condemnation sure. While they refuse to come to Christ and to seek mercy in and by him, that they may live, the fire of Divine wrath breaks forth upon them. Men may make an idol of the world, but will find it cannot protect.
Commentary on Amos 5:7-17
(Read Amos 5:7-17)
The same almighty power can, for repenting sinners, easily turn affliction and sorrow into prosperity and joy, and as easily turn the prosperity of daring sinners into utter darkness. Evil times will not bear plain dealing; that is, evil men will not. And these men were evil men indeed, when wise and good men thought it in vain even to speak to them. Those who will seek and love that which is good, may help to save the land from ruin. It behoves us to plead God's spiritual promises, to beseech him to create in us a clean heart, and to renew a right spirit within us. The Lord is ever ready to be gracious to the souls that seek him; and then piety and every duty will be attended to. But as for sinful Israel, God's judgments had often passed by them, now they shall pass through them.