Amos 5:13

Amos 5:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.
• New International Version (NIV)Therefore the prudent keep quiet in such times, for the times are evil.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time, for it is an evil time.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, For it is an evil time.

Context of Amos 5:13

11Therefore, because you trample on the poor and exact a grain tax from him, you will never live in the houses of cut stone you have built; you will never drink the wine from the lush vineyards you have planted. 12For I know your crimes are many and your sins innumerable. They oppress the righteous, take a bribe, and deprive the poor of justice at the city gates. Therefore, those who have insight will keep silent at such a time, for the days are evil. 14Pursue good and not evil so that you may live, and the Lord, the God of Armies, will be with you as you have claimed. 15Hate evil and love good; establish justice at the city gate. Perhaps the Lord, the God of Armies, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

Amos 5:13 word by word

לָכֵ֗ן הַמַּשְׂכִּ֛יל בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִ֖יא יִדֹּ֑ם כִּ֛י עֵ֥ת רָעָ֖ה הִֽיא׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Therefore the prudentשָׂכַלώâkal · be prudentH7919
• shall keep silenceדָּמַםdâmam · to silence: silentH1826
• in that timeעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
• an evilרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451

Cross-references for Amos 5:13

• Amos 6:10A close relative and burner will remove his corpse from the house. He will call to someone in the inner recesses of the house, “Any more with you?” That person will reply, “None.” Then he will say, “Silence, because the Lord’s name must not be invoked.”
• Ecclesiastes 3:7a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to be silent and a time to speak;
• Isaiah 36:21But they kept silent; they didn’t say anything, for the king’s command was, “Don’t answer him.”
• Hosea 4:4But let no one dispute; let no one argue, for my case is against you priests.
• Micah 7:5Do not rely on a friend; don’t trust in a close companion. Seal your mouth from the woman who lies in your arms.
• Matthew 27:12While he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he didn’t answer.
• Ecclesiastes 9:12For certainly no one knows his time: like fish caught in a cruel net or like birds caught in a trap, so people are trapped in an evil time as it suddenly falls on them.
• Isaiah 37:3They said to him, “This is what Hezekiah says: ‘Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace. It is as if children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to deliver them.
• Micah 2:3Therefore, the Lord says: I am now planning a disaster against this nation; you cannot free your necks from it. Then you will not walk so proudly because it will be an evil time.
• Habakkuk 3:16I heard, and I trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound. Rottenness entered my bones; I trembled where I stood. Now I must quietly wait for the day of distress to come against the people invading us.
• Zephaniah 2:2before the decree takes effect and the day passes like chaff, before the burning of the Lord’s anger overtakes you, before the day of the Lord’s anger overtakes you.
• Ephesians 5:15Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk — not as unwise people but as wise —
• Ephesians 6:13For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.
• 2 Timothy 3:1But know this: Hard times will come in the last days.

Commentaries on Amos 5:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13The prudent shall keep silence - A wise man will consider that it is useless to complain. He can have no justice without bribes; and he has no money to give: consequently, in such an evil time, it is best to keep silence.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time - The “time” may be either the time of the obduracy of the wicked, or that of the common punishment. For a time may be called “evil,” whether evil is done, or is suffered in it, as Jacob says, “Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been” Genesis 47:9. Of the first, he would perhaps say, that the oppressed poor would, if wise, be silent, not complaining or accusing, for, injustice having…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-17Verses 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13Witnesses insisted they saw and heard nothing. Being truthful had become risky (Amos 5:10) and could put the speaker in danger.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. the prudent--the spiritually wise. shall keep silence--not mere silence of tongue, but the prudent shall keep himself quiet from taking part in any public or private affairs which he can avoid: as it is "an evil time," and one in which all law is set at naught. Ep 5:16 refers to this. Instead of impatiently agitating against irremediable evils, the godly wise will not cast pearls before swine, who would trample these, and rend the offerers (Mt 7:6)…Read the comment

Topics related to Amos 5:13

• Prudence
• Speaking

In the dictionaries

• Manifold
• Seek
• Calf, Golden
• Silence

Commentaries on Amos 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings