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 impose heavy rent on the poor And take a tribute of grain from them, Though you have built houses of cut stone, Yet you will not live in them; You have planted beautiful vineyards, yet you will not drink their wine. 12For I know your offenses are many and your sins are great, You who are hostile to the righteous and accept bribes, And turn away the poor from justice at the gate. Therefore at such a time the prudent person keeps quiet, because it is an evil time. 14Seek good and not evil, so that you may live; And so may the Lord God of armies be with you, Just as you have said! 15Hate evil, love good, And establish justice in the gate! Perhaps the Lord 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

• Thereforeכֵּןkên · soH3651
• suchהוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
• a timeעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
• the prudentשָׂכַלώâkal · be prudentH7919
• keepsדָּמַםdâmam · to silence: stationaryH1826
• becauseכִּיkîy · forH3588

Cross-references for Amos 5:13

• Amos 6:10Then one’s uncle, or his undertaker, will lift him up to carry out his bones from the house, and he will say to the one who is in the innermost part of the house, “Is anyone else with you?” And that one will say, “No one.” Then he will answer, “Keep quiet! For the name of the Lord is not to be mentioned.”
• Ecclesiastes 3:7A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak.
• Isaiah 36:21But they were silent and did not answer him so much as a word; for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.”
• Hosea 4:4Yet let no one find fault, and let no one rebuke; For your people are like those who contend with a priest.
• Micah 7:5Do not trust in a neighbor; Do not have confidence in a close friend. Guard your lips From her who lies in your arms.
• Matthew 27:12And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not offer any answer.
• Ecclesiastes 9:12For indeed, a person does not know his time: like fish that are caught in a treacherous net and birds caught in a snare, so the sons of mankind are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them.
• Isaiah 37:3And they said to him, “This is what Hezekiah says: ‘This day is a day of distress, rebuke, and humiliation; for children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to deliver them.
• Micah 2:3Therefore this is what the Lord says: “Behold, I am planning against this family a catastrophe From which you cannot remove your necks; And you will not walk haughtily, For it will be an evil time.
• Habakkuk 3:16I heard, and my inner parts trembled; At the sound, my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, And in my place I tremble; Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, For the people to arise who will attack us.
• Zephaniah 2:2Before the decree takes effect-- The day passes like chaff-- Before the burning anger of the Lord comes upon you, Before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you.
• Ephesians 5:15So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise,
• Ephesians 6:13Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
• 2 Timothy 3:1But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

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