Seek the Lord and Live

Amos 5

The Lord takes up a lament over fallen Israel, urging the people to seek him rather than the shrines of Bethel and Gilgal and to restore justice in the gates, and warns that the day many long for will be darkness and not light, since he rejects their feasts and sacrifices offered without righteousness.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

Thomson(p) HEAR this word of the Lord—a song of woe which I take up respecting you. The house of Israel is fallen. Shall it never more rise again?

BrentonHear ye this word of the Lord, even a lamentation, which I take up against you. The house of Israel is fallen; it shall no more rise.

GreekἈκούσατε τὸν λόγον Κυρίου τοῦτον, ὃν ἐγὼ λαμβάνω ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς, θρῆνον. Οἶκος Ἰσραὴλ

KJVHear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel.

JPSHear ye this word which I take up for a lamentation over you, O house of Israel:

ThomsonThe virgin of Israel is prostrate on the ground. Is there none to raise her up?

BrentonThe virgin of Israel has fallen upon his land; there is none that shall raise her up.

Greekἔπεσεν, οὐκέτι μὴ προσθήσει τοῦ ἀναστῆναι. Παρθένος τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ ἔσφαλεν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς αὐτοῦ, οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ ἀναστήσων αὐτήν.

KJVThe virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; there is none to raise her up.

JPSThe virgin of Israel is fallen, She shall no more rise; She is cast down upon her land, There is none to raise her up.

ThomsonFor this cause thus saith the Lord God,—of the city from which a thousand marched, there shall be left a hundred; and of the city from which a hundred marched, ten shall be left to the house of Israel.

BrentonTherefore thus saith the Lord God; The city out of which there went forth a thousand, in it there shall be left a hundred, and in that out of which there went forth a hundred, there shall be left ten to the house of Israel.

GreekΔιατοῦτο τάδε λέγει Κύριος Κύριος, ἡ πόλις ἐξ ἧς ἐξεπορεύοντο χίλιοι, ὑπολειφθήσονται ἑκατόν· καὶ ἐξ ἧς ἐξεπορεύοντο ἑκατὸν, ὑπολειφθήσονται δέκα τῷ οἴκῳ Ἰσραήλ.

KJVFor thus saith the Lord GOD; The city that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred, and that which went forth by an hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel.

JPSFor thus saith the Lord GOD: The city that went forth a thousand shall have a hundred left, and that which went forth a hundred shall have ten left, of the house of Israel.

ThomsonWherefore, thus saith the Lord to the house of Israel: Seek Me and you shall live.

BrentonWherefore thus saith the Lord to the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live.

GreekΔιότι τάδε λέγει Κύριος πρὸς τὸν οἶκον Ἰσραὴλ, ἐκζητήσατέ με, καὶ ζήσεσθε.

KJVFor thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:

JPSFor thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel: Seek ye Me, and live;

ThomsonBut seek not Baithel, nor go to Galgal, nor pass on to the Well of Oath: because Galgal shall surely go into captivity, and Baithel shall be as if it had never existed.

BrentonBut seek not Bæthel, and go not in to Galgala, and cross not over to the Well of the Oath: for Galgala shall surely go into captivity, and Bæthel shall be as that which is not.

GreekΚαὶ μὴ ἐκζητεῖτε Βαιθὴλ, καὶ εἰς Γάλγαλα μὴ εἰσπορεύεσθε, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸ φρέαρ τοῦ ὅρκου μὴ διαβαίνετε, ὅτι Γάλγαλα αἰχμαλωτευομένη αἰχμαλωτευθήσεται, καὶ Βαιθὴλ ἔσται ὡς οὐχ ὑπάρχουσα.

KJVBut seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought.

JPSBut seek not Beth-el, Nor enter into Gilgal, And pass not to Beer-sheba; For Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, And Beth-el shall come to nought.

ThomsonSeek the Lord and live, that the house of Joseph may not blaze like a fire and devour him, and the house of Israel have none to quench it.

BrentonSeek ye the Lord, and ye shall live; lest the house of Joseph blaze as fire, and it devour him, and there shall be none to quench it for the house of Israel.

GreekἘκζητήσατε τὸν Κύριον, καὶ ζήσατε, ὅπως μὴ ἀναλάμψῃ ὡς πῦρ ὁ οἶκος Ἰωσὴφ, καὶ καταφάγῃ αὐτὸν, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὁ σβέσων τῷ οἴκῳ Ἰσραήλ.

KJVSeek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel.

JPSSeek the LORD, and live— Lest He break out like fire in the house of Joseph, And it devour, and there be none to quench it in Bethel—

ThomsonHe is the exalter of judgment and hath established righteousness for the earth.

BrentonIt is he that executes judgment in the height above, and he has established justice on the earth:

GreekὉ ποιῶν εἰς ὕψος κρίμα, καὶ δικαιοσύνην εἰς γῆν ἔθηκεν·

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonHe is the maker and former of all things. He turned darkness into day, and darkeneth the day into night. He calleth to Himself the water of the sea, and poureth it out on the face of the earth.

Brentonwho makes all things, and changes them, and turns darkness into the morning, and darkens the day into night: who calls for the water of the sea, and pours it out on the face of the earth: the Lord is his name:

Greekὁ ποιῶν πάντα καὶ μετασκευάζων, καὶ ἐκτρέπων εἰς τοπρωῒ σκιάν, καὶ ἡμέραν εἰς νύκτα συσκοτάζων, ὁ προσκαλούμενος τὸ ὕδωρ τῆς θαλάσσης, καὶ ἐκχέων αὐτὸ ἐπὶ πρόσωπον τῆς γῆς· Κύριος ὄνομα αὐτῷ·

KJVSeek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:

JPSHim that maketh the Pleiades and Orion, And bringeth on the shadow of death in the morning, And darkeneth the day into night; That calleth for the waters of the sea, And poureth them out upon the face of the earth; The LORD is His name;

Thomson—

Brentonwho dispenses ruin to strength, and brings distress upon the fortress.

Greekὁ διαιρῶν συντριμμὸν ἐπὶ ἰσχὺν, καὶ ταλαιπωρίαν ἐπὶ ὀχύρωμα ἐπάγων.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson(J) They hated a reprover in the gates and held in abhorrence a holy word;

BrentonThey hated him that reproved in the gates, and abhorred holy speech.

GreekἘμίσησαν ἐν πύλαις ἐλέγχοντα, καὶ λόγον ὅσιον ἐβδελύξαντο.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsontherefore because they have beaten the poor with their fists, though you had received from them choice gifts; you have built houses of hewn stone; but in them you shall not dwell; you have planted lovely vineyards, but you shall not drink the wine thereof.

BrentonTherefore because they have smitten the poor with their fists, and ye have received of them choice gifts; ye have built polished houses, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted desirable vineyards, but ye shall not drink the wine of them.

GreekΔιατοῦτο ἀνθʼ ὧν κατεκονδύλιζον πτωχοὺς, καὶ δῶρα ἐκλεκτὰ ἐδέξασθε παρʼ αὐτῶν, οἴκους ξεστοὺς ᾠκοδομήσατε, καὶ οὐ μὴ κατοικήσητε ἐν αὐτοῖς· ἀμπελῶνας ἐπιθυμητοὺς ἐφυτεύσατε, καὶ οὐ μὴ πίητε τὸν οἶνον αὐτῶν.

KJVForasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.

JPSTherefore, because ye trample upon the poor, And take from him exactions of wheat; Ye have built houses of hewn stone, But ye shall not dwell in them, Ye have planted pleasant vineyards, But ye shall not drink wine thereof.

Thomson(p) Because I know your manifold impieties and your sins are mighty—you trample down the righteous, take pledges and turn aside the poor in the gates;

BrentonFor I know your many transgressions, and your sins are great, trampling on the just, taking bribes, and turning aside the judgment of the poor in the gates.

GreekὍτι ἔγνων πολλὰς ἀσεβείας ὑμῶν, καὶ ἰσχυραὶ αἱ ἁμαρτίαι ὑμῶν, καταπατοῦντες δίκαιον, λαμβάνοντες ἀλλάγματα, καὶ πένητας ἐν πύλαις ἐκκλίνοντες.

KJVFor I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.

JPSFor I know how manifold are your transgressions, And how mighty are your sins; Ye that afflict the just, that take a ransom, And that turn aside the needy in the gate.

Thomsontherefore the prudent will at that time be silent because it is the time of wicked men.

BrentonTherefore the prudent shall be silent at that time; for it is a time of evils.

GreekΔιατοῦτο ὁ συνιὼν ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ σιωπήσεται, ὅτι καιρὸς πονηρῶν ἐστιν.

KJVTherefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

JPSTherefore the prudent doth keep silence in such a time; For it is an evil time.

ThomsonSeek good and not evil that you may live, and so the Lord God Almighty will be with you. As you have said,

BrentonSeek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord God Almighty shall be with you, as ye have said,

GreekἘκζητήσατε τὸ καλὸν, καὶ μὴ πονηρὸν, ὅπως ζήσητε, καὶ ἔσται οὕτως μεθʼ ὑμῶν Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ, ὃν τρόπον εἴπατε,

KJVSeek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.

JPSSeek good, and not evil, that ye may live; And so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you, as ye say.

ThomsonWe have hated evil and loved good; therefore re-establish judgment in the gates, that the Lord God Almighty may have compassion on the remnant of Joseph.

BrentonWe have hated evil, and loved good: and restore ye judgment in the gates; that the Lord God Almighty may have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.

Greekμεμισήκαμεν τὰ πονηρὰ, καὶ ἠγαπήσαμεν τὰ καλά· καὶ ἀποκαταστήσατε ἐν πύλαις κρίμα, ὅπως ἐλεήσῃ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ τοὺς περιλοίπους τοῦ Ἰωσήφ.

KJVHate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

JPSHate the evil, and love the good, And establish justice in the gate; It may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, Will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

ThomsonFor this purpose, saith the Lord, the God Almighty, in all the streets let there be wailing, and in all the highways let them say, Alas! Alas! Let the husbandman be called to lamentation and mourning, and to them who are skilled in the song of woe.

BrentonTherefore thus saith the Lord God Almighty; In all the streets shall be lamentations; and in all the ways shall it be said, Woe, woe! the husbandman shall be called to mourning and lamentation, and to them that are skilled in complaining.

GreekΔιατοῦτο τάδε λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ, ἐν πάσαις ταῖς πλατείαις κοπετὸς, καὶ ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς ῥηθήσεται οὐαὶ, οὐαί· κληθήσεται γεωργὸς εἰς πένθος καὶ κοπετὸν, καὶ εἰς εἰδότας θρῆνον.

KJVTherefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the LORD, saith thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing.

JPSTherefore thus saith the LORD, The God of hosts, the Lord: Lamentation shall be in all the broad places, And they shall say in all the streets: ‘Alas! alas! ’ And they shall call the husbandman to mourning, And proclaim lamentation to such as are skilful of wailing.

ThomsonAnd in all the ways let there be wailing; for I will pass through the midst of thee, said the Lord.

BrentonAnd there shall be lamentation in all the ways; because I will pass through the midst of thee, saith the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ ἐν πάσαις ὁδοῖς κοπετὸς, διότι ἐλεύσομαι διὰ μέσου σου, εἶπε Κύριος.

KJVAnd in all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD.

JPSAnd in all vineyards shall be lamentation; For I will pass through the midst of thee, Saith the LORD.

ThomsonAlas for them who desire the day of the Lord! Why should you desire the day of the Lord, when it is darkness and not light?

BrentonWoe to you that desire the day of the Lord! what is this day of the Lord to you? whereas it is darkness, and not light.

GreekΟὐαὶ οἱ ἐπιθυμοῦντες τὴν ἡμέραν Κυρίου· ἱνατί αὕτη ὑμῖν ἡ ἡμέρα τοῦ Κυρίου; καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶ σκότος καὶ οὐ φῶς.

KJVWoe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.

JPSWoe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! Wherefore would ye have the day of the LORD? It is darkness, and not light.

ThomsonAs if a man would flee from the face of a lion and a bear met him, or, as if one would leap into a house and leaning his hand on the wall a serpent bit him.

BrentonAs if a man should flee from the face of a lion, and a bear should meet him; and he should spring into his house, and lean his hands upon the wall, and a serpent should bite him.

GreekὋν τρόπον ἐὰν φύγῃ ἄνθρωπος ἐκ προσώπου τοῦ λέοντος, καὶ ἐμπέσῃ αὐτῷ ἡ ἄρκος, καὶ εἰσπηδήσῃ εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀπερείσηται τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸν τοῖχον, καὶ δάκῃ αὐτὸν ὄφις.

KJVAs if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

JPSAs if a man did flee from a lion, And a bear met him; And went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, And a serpent bit him.

ThomsonIs not this day of the Lord darkness and not light—even thick darkness, in which there is not a ray of light?

BrentonIs not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light? and is not this day gloom without brightness?

GreekΟὐχὶ σκότος ἡ ἡμέρα τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ οὐ φῶς, καὶ γνόφος οὐκ ἔχων φέγγος αὕτη;

KJVShall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

JPSShall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it?

Thomson—

BrentonI hate, I reject your feasts, and I will not smell your meat-offerings in your general assemblies.

GreekΜεμίσηκα, ἀπῶσμαι ἑορτὰς ὑμῶν, καὶ οὐ μὴ ὀσφρανθῶ θυσίας ἐν ταῖς πανηγύρεσιν ὑμῶν.

KJVI hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.

JPSI hate, I despise your feasts, And I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

ThomsonTherefore though you offer Me whole burnt offerings, I will not accept your sacrifices nor regard your sumptuous peace offerings.

BrentonWherefore if ye should bring me your whole-burnt-sacrifices and meat-offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I have respect to your grand peace-offerings.

GreekΔιότι ἐὰν ἐνέγκητέ μοι ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ θυσίας ὑμῶν, οὐ προσδέξομαι, καὶ σωτηρίους ἐπιφανείας ὑμῶν οὐκ ἐπιβλέψομαι.

KJVThough 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.

JPSYea, though ye offer me burnt-offerings and your meal-offerings, I will not accept them; Neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts.

ThomsonTake from Me the noise of thy songs, and let Me not hear the melody of musical instruments;

BrentonRemove from me the sound of thy songs, and I will not hear the music of thine instruments.

GreekΜετάστησον ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ ἦχον ᾠδῶν σου, καὶ ψαλμὸν ὀργάνων σου οὐκ ἀκούσομαι.

KJVTake thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.

JPSTake thou away from Me the noise of thy songs; And let Me not hear the melody of thy psalteries.

Thomsonbut let judgment roll down like water, and righteousness like an impassable torrent.

BrentonBut let judgment roll down as water, and righteousness as an impassable torrent.

GreekΚαὶ κυλισθήσεται ὡς ὕδωρ κρίμα, καὶ δικαιοσύνη ὡς χειμάῤῥους ἄβατος.

KJVBut let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

JPS—

ThomsonDid you, O house of Israel offer to Me burnt offerings and sacrifices, forty years in the wilderness?

BrentonHave ye offered to me victims and sacrifices, O house of Israel, forty years in the wilderness?

GreekΜὴ σφάγια καὶ θυσίας προσηνέγκατέ μοι οἶκος Ἰσραὴλ τεσσαράκοντα ἔτη ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ;

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

JPSDid ye bring unto Me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?

Thomson—

BrentonYea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Ræphan, the images of them which ye made for yourselves.

GreekΚαὶ ἀνελάβετε τὴν σκηνὴν τοῦ Μολὸχ, καὶ τὸ ἄστρον τοῦ θεοῦ ὑμῶν Ῥαιφὰν, τοὺς τύπους αὐτῶν οὓς ἐποιήσατε ἑαυτοῖς.

KJVBut ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.

JPSSo shall ye take up Siccuth your king and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.

ThomsonYou have indeed taken up the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Raiphan—those types of them which you have made for yourselves. Therefore I will remove you beyond Damascus; saith the Lord, the God Whose name is the Almighty.

BrentonAnd I will carry you away beyond Damascus, saith the Lord, the Almighty God is his name.

GreekΚαὶ μετοικιῶ ὑμᾶς ἐπέκεινα Δαμασκοῦ, λέγει Κύριος· ὁ Θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ ὄνομα αὐτῷ.

KJVTherefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts.

JPSTherefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith He, whose name is the LORD God of hosts.