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

11You cheat poor people so that they pay too much tax. You take away their food for yourselves. Because of that, you will not live in the beautiful houses that you have built for yourselves. You will not drink wine from the vines that you have planted. 12I, the Lord, know all the wrong things that you have done. They are very many and they are very bad. You are cruel to good people. You take bribes to tell lies. Sometimes a person gives money to you to make you tell lies. As a result, poor people do not receive justice. This is such an evil time that clever people say nothing. That is how they keep themselves safe.’ 14You say that the Lord God Almighty is with you. Stop doing evil things. Do good things, so that you will live. Then the Lord God Almighty will really be with you, as you say. 15Hate evil things and love good things. When you judge people, be fair and honest. Then maybe the Lord God Almighty will be kind to those of his people who still remain, Joseph's descendants.

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 6:10When a man comes to carry a dead body outside to burn it, he will ask his relative, ‘Is there anyone with you in the house?’ The relative will answer, ‘No.’ Then the man will say, ‘Be quiet!. Do not speak the name of the Lord!’
• Ecclesiastes 3:7There is a time to tear our clothes. There is a time to mend them. There is a time to say nothing. There is a time to speak.
• Isaiah 36:21When the people who were sitting on the wall heard this, they were quiet. They did not reply, because King Hezekiah had said, ‘Do not answer him.’
• Hosea 4:4Do not argue among yourselves or accuse one another. It is you priests who are guilty.
• Micah 7:5Do not believe anyone, even somebody that you know well. You cannot be sure that your friend will always be honest with you. Be careful what you say to your wife. Be careful even when you are hugging her.
• Matthew 27:12The leaders of the priests and the important Jews spoke against Jesus. They said that he had done many bad things. Jesus did not answer them.
• Ecclesiastes 9:12Nobody knows the time when trouble may come to them. A fish does not know when somebody will catch it in a net. A bird does not know when somebody will catch it in a trap. In the same way, terrible trouble suddenly happens to people when they do not expect it.
• Isaiah 37:3They told Hezekiah's message to Isaiah: ‘This is a time of great trouble. Assyria has insulted us to make us ashamed. Our nation is like a woman who is ready to give birth, but she is too weak to push the child out.
• Micah 2:3So the Lord says this to them: ‘I am against you. You cannot save yourselves. I will prepare trouble for you. Then you will stop thinking that you are so very clever and important. It will be a time of much trouble for you.
• Habakkuk 3:16I listened to this and I was very afraid. My lips shook with fear when I heard the sound. My bones became weak. My legs would not let me walk. But I will be patient. I will wait for the day of trouble that will come. Yes, punishment will come to the people who are attacking us.
• Zephaniah 2:2The wind takes away the dry parts of a plant that covered the seed. It will be like that when I punish you. Before it is the time for me to punish you, look for me. Before this time is past, look for me. Look for me, before I become very, very angry with you. There will be a day when the Lord will be angry. Look for me, before that day. Yes, look for the Lord, all you people who want to make him happy. You have done what the Lord wants. Continue to do what is good. But do not think that you are great. Perhaps you will find a safe place on the day when the Lord is angry.
• Ephesians 5:15So you must be very careful how you live. Live like people who are wise. Do not live like fools.
• Ephesians 6:13Because of that, take all the help that God gives, like it is your armour. Then, when the bad time comes, you will be able to stand strongly. You will not fall. After you have finished everything, you will still be standing strongly in your place.
• 2 Timothy 3:1Let me tell you this. During the last days of this world, there will be times of great trouble.

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