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 make the poor pay taxes on their crops and exact a grain tax from them, you will not live in the houses you built with chiseled stone, nor will you drink the wine from the fine vineyards you planted. 12Certainly I am aware of your many rebellious acts and your numerous sins. You torment the innocent, you take bribes, and you deny justice to the needy at the city gate. For this reason whoever is smart keeps quiet in such a time, for it is an evil time. 14Seek good and not evil so you can live! Then the Lord, the God who commands armies, just might be with you, as you claim he is. 15Hate what is wrong, love what is right! Promote justice at the city gate! Maybe the Lord, the God who commands armies, will have mercy on those who are left from 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 6:10When their close relatives, the ones who will burn the corpses, pick up their bodies to remove the bones from the house, they will say to anyone who is in the inner rooms of the house, “Is anyone else with you?” He will respond, “Be quiet! Don’t invoke the Lord’s name!”
• Ecclesiastes 3:7A time to rip, and a time to sew; a time to keep silent, and a time to speak.
• Isaiah 36:21They were silent and did not respond, for the king had ordered, “Don’t respond to him.”
• Hosea 4:4Do not let anyone accuse or contend against anyone else: for my case is against you priests!
• Micah 7:5Do not rely on a friend; do not trust a companion! Don’t even share secrets with the one who lies in your arms!
• Matthew 27:12But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he did not respond.
• Ecclesiastes 9:12Surely, no one knows his appointed time! Like fish that are caught in a deadly net, and like birds that are caught in a snare – just like them, all people are ensnared at an unfortunate time that falls upon them suddenly.
• Isaiah 37:3“This is what Hezekiah says: ‘This is a day of distress, insults, and humiliation, as when a baby is ready to leave the birth canal, but the mother lacks the strength to push it through.
• Micah 2:3Therefore the Lord says this: “Look, I am devising disaster for this nation! It will be like a yoke from which you cannot free your neck. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of catastrophe.
• Habakkuk 3:16I listened and my stomach churned; the sound made my lips quiver. My frame went limp, as if my bones were decaying, and I shook as I tried to walk. I long for the day of distress to come upon the people who attack us.
• Zephaniah 2:2before God’s decree becomes reality and the day of opportunity disappears like windblown chaff, before the Lord’s raging anger overtakes you – before the day of the Lord’s angry judgment overtakes you!
• Ephesians 5:15Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise,
• Ephesians 6:13For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.
• 2 Timothy 3:1But understand 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