Revised Literal Translation

Amos 5

1Hearשִׁמְע֞וּshim.'UH8085ye this wordהַדָּבָ֣רha.da.VarH1697which I take upנֹשֵׂ֧אno.Se'H5375against you, evena lamentationקִינָ֖הki.NahH7015,O houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

2The virginבְּתוּלַ֖תbe.tu.LatH1330of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478is fallenנָֽפְלָה֙na.fe.LahH5307;she shall no moreתוֹסִ֣יףto.SifH3254riseק֔וּםKumH6965:she is forsakenנִטְּשָׁ֥הni.te.ShahH5203upon her landאַדְמָתָ֖הּ'ad.ma.TahH127; there isnone to raise her upמְקִימָֽהּ׃me.ki.MahH6965.

3For thus saithאָמַר֙'a.MarH559the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136Yhwhיְהוִ֔הYah.wehH3069;The cityהָעִ֛ירha.'IrH5892that went outהַיֹּצֵ֥אתhai.yo.TzetH3318bya thousandאֶ֖לֶף'E.lefH505shall leaveתַּשְׁאִ֣ירtash.'IrH7604an hundredמֵאָ֑הme.'AhH3967,and that which went forthוְהַיּוֹצֵ֥אתve.hai.yo.TzetH3318byan hundredמֵאָ֛הme.'AhH3967shall leaveתַּשְׁאִ֥ירtash.'IrH7604tenעֲשָׂרָ֖ה'a.sa.RahH6235,to the houseלְבֵ֥יתle.VeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ סYis.ra.'ElH3478.

4For thus saithאָמַ֛ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068unto the houseלְבֵ֣יתle.VeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478,Seekדִּרְשׁ֖וּנִיdir.Shu.niH1875ye me, and ye shall liveוִֽחְיֽוּ׃Vich.YuH2421:

5But seekתִּדְרְשׁוּ֙tid.re.ShuH1875not Beth–elH1008,nor enterתָבֹ֔אוּta.Vo.'uH935into Gilgalוְהַגִּלְגָּל֙ve.ha.gil.GalH1537,and passתַעֲבֹ֑רוּta.'a.Vo.ruH5674not to Beer–shebaH884:for Gilgalהַגִּלְגָּל֙ha.gil.GalH1537shall surelyגָּלֹ֣הga.LohH1540go into captivityיִגְלֶ֔הyig.LehH1540,and Beth–elH1008shall come to noughtלְאָֽוֶן׃le.'A.venH205.

6Seekדִּרְשׁ֥וּdir.ShuH1875Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,and ye shall liveוִֽחְי֑וּvich.YuH2421;lest he break outיִצְלַ֤חyitz.LachH6743like fireכָּאֵשׁ֙ka.'EshH784in the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Josephיוֹסֵ֔ףyo.SefH3130,and devourוְאָכְלָ֥הve.'a.khe.LahH398it, and there benone to quenchמְכַבֶּ֖הme.kha.BehH3518itin Beth–elH1008.

7Ye who turnהַהֹפְכִ֥יםha.ho.fe.KhimH2015judgmentמִשְׁפָּ֑טmish.PatH4941to wormwoodלְלַעֲנָ֖הle.la.'a.NahH3939,and leave offH3240righteousnessוּצְדָקָ֖הu.tze.da.KahH6666in the earthלָאָ֥רֶץla.'A.retzH776,

8Seek himthat makethעֹשֵׂ֨ה'o.SehH6213the seven starsכִימָ֜הkhi.MahH3598and Orionוּכְסִ֗ילu.khe.SilH3685,and turnethוְהֹפֵ֤ךְve.ho.FekhH2015the shadow of deathצַלְמָ֔וֶתtzal.Ma.vetH6757into the morningלַבֹּ֙קֶר֙la.Bo.kerH1242,and maketh the dayוְי֖וֹםve.YomH3117darkהֶחְשִׁ֑יךְhech.ShikhH2821with nightלַ֣יְלָהLay.lahH3915:that callethהַקּוֹרֵ֣אha.ko.Re'H7121for the watersלְמֵֽי־le.mei-H4325of the seaהַיָּ֗םhai.YamH3220,and poureth them outוַֽיִּשְׁפְּכֵ֛םvai.yish.pe.KhemH8210upon the faceפְּנֵ֥יpe.NeiH6440of the earthהָאָ֖רֶץha.'A.retzH776:Yhwhיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068ishis nameשְׁמֽוֹ׃ סshe.MoH8034:

9That strengthenethהַמַּבְלִ֥יגha.mav.LigH1082the spoiledשֹׁ֖דshodH7701against the strongעָ֑ז'AzH5794,so that the spoiledוְשֹׁ֖דve.ShodH7701shall comeיָבֽוֹא׃ya.Vo'H935against the fortressמִבְצָ֥רmiv.TzarH4013.

10They hateשָׂנְא֥וּsa.ne.'UH8130him that rebukethמוֹכִ֑יחַmo.Khi.achH3198in the gateבַשַּׁ֖עַרva.Sha.'arH8179,and they abhorיְתָעֵֽבוּ׃ye.ta.'E.vuH8581him that speakethוְדֹבֵ֥רve.do.VerH1696uprightlyתָּמִ֖יםta.MimH8549.

11Forasmuchיַ֣עַןYa.'anH3282therefore as your treadingבּוֹשַׁסְכֶ֞םbo.shas.KhemH1318isupon the poorדָּ֗לDalH1800,and ye takeתִּקְח֣וּtik.ChuH3947from him burdensוּמַשְׂאַת־u.mas.'at-H4864of wheatבַּר֙barH1250:ye have builtבְּנִיתֶ֖םbe.ni.TemH1129housesבָּתֵּ֥יba.TeiH1004of hewn stoneגָזִ֛יתga.ZitH1496,but ye shall not dwellתֵ֣שְׁבוּTe.she.vuH3427in them; ye have plantedנְטַעְתֶּ֔םne.ta'.TemH5193pleasantחֶ֣מֶדChe.medH2531vineyardsכַּרְמֵי־kar.mei-H3754,but ye shall not drinkתִשְׁתּ֖וּtish.TuH8354wineיֵינָֽם׃yei.NamH3196of them.

12For I knowיָדַ֙עְתִּי֙ya.Da'.tiH3045your manifoldרַבִּ֣יםra.BimH7227transgressionsפִּשְׁעֵיכֶ֔םpish.'ei.KhemH6588and your mightyוַעֲצֻמִ֖יםva.'a.tzu.MimH6099sinsחַטֹּֽאתֵיכֶ֑םcha.to.tei.KhemH2403:they afflictצֹרְרֵ֤יtzo.re.ReiH6887the justצַדִּיק֙tza.DikH6662,they takeלֹ֣קְחֵיLo.ke.cheiH3947a bribeכֹ֔פֶרKho.ferH3724,and they turn asideהִטּֽוּ׃hi.TuH5186the poorוְאֶבְיוֹנִ֖יםve.'ev.yo.NimH34in the gateבַּשַּׁ֥עַרba.Sha.'arH8179from their right.

13Therefore the prudentהַמַּשְׂכִּ֛ילha.mas.KilH7919shall keep silenceיִדֹּ֑םyi.DomH1826in that timeבָּעֵ֥תba.'EtH6256; for it isan evilרָעָ֖הra.'AhH7451timeעֵ֥ת'etH6256.

14Seekדִּרְשׁוּ־dir.shu-H1875goodט֥וֹבTovH2896,and not evilרָ֖עra'H7451,that ye may liveתִּֽחְי֑וּtich.YuH2421:and so Yhwhיְהוָ֧הYah.wehH3068,the Godאֱלֹהֵֽי־'e.lo.hei-H430of Armiesצְבָא֛וֹתtze.va.'otH6635,shall be with you, as ye have spokenאֲמַרְתֶּֽם׃'a.mar.TemH559.

15Hateשִׂנְאוּ־sin.'u-H8130the evilרָע֙ra'H7451,and loveוְאֶ֣הֱבוּve.'E.he.vuH157the goodט֔וֹבTovH2896,and establishוְהַצִּ֥יגוּve.ha.Tzi.guH3322judgmentמִשְׁפָּ֑טmish.PatH4941in the gateבַשַּׁ֖עַרva.Sha.'arH8179:it may be that Yhwhיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068Godאֱלֹהֵֽי־'e.lo.hei-H430of Armiesצְבָא֖וֹתtze.va.'otH6635will be graciousיֶֽחֱנַ֛ןye.che.NanH2603unto the remnantשְׁאֵרִ֥יתshe.'e.RitH7611of Josephיוֹסֵֽף׃ סyo.SefH3130.

16Therefore Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068,the Godאֱלֹהֵ֤י'e.lo.HeiH430of Armiesצְבָאוֹת֙tze.va.'OtH6635,the Lordאֲדֹנָ֔י'a.do.NaiH136,saithאָמַ֨ר'a.MarH559thus; Wailingמִסְפֵּ֔דmis.PedH4553shall bein all streetsרְחֹב֣וֹתre.cho.VotH7339;and they shall sayיֹאמְר֣וּyo.me.RuH559in all the highwaysחוּצ֖וֹתchu.TzotH2351,Alasהוֹ־hov-H1930!alasה֑וֹhoH1930!and they shall callוְקָרְא֤וּve.ka.re.'UH7121the husbandmanאִכָּר֙'i.KarH406to mourningאֵ֔בֶל'E.velH60,and such as are skilfulי֥וֹדְעֵיYod.'eiH3045of lamentationנֶֽהִי׃Ne.hiH5092to wailingוּמִסְפֵּ֖דu.mis.PedH4553.

17And in all vineyardsכְּרָמִ֖יםke.ra.MimH3754shall bewailingמִסְפֵּ֑דmis.PedH4553:for I will passאֶעֱבֹ֥ר'e.'e.VorH5674throughבְּקִרְבְּךָ֖be.kir.be.ChaH7130thee, saithאָמַ֥ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃ סYah.wehH3068.

18Woeה֥וֹיHoH1945unto you that desireהַמִּתְאַוִּ֖יםha.mit.'a.VimH183the dayי֣וֹםYomH3117of Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068!to what endלָמָּה־la.mah-H4100isit for you? the dayי֥וֹםYomH3117of Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068isdarknessחֹ֥שֶׁךְCho.shekhH2822,and not lightאֽוֹר׃'orH216.

19As if a manאִישׁ֙'ishH376did fleeיָנ֥וּסya.NusH5127fromמִפְּנֵ֣יmi.pe.NeiH6440a lionהָאֲרִ֔יha.'a.RiH738,and a bearהַדֹּ֑בha.DoH1677metוּפְגָע֖וֹu.fe.ga.'OH6293him; or wentוּבָ֣אu.Va'H935into the houseהַבַּ֔יִתha.Ba.yitH1004,and leanedוְסָמַ֤ךְve.sa.MakhH5564his handיָדוֹ֙ya.DoH3027on the wallהַקִּ֔ירha.KirH7023,and a serpentהַנָּחָֽשׁ׃ha.na.ChashH5175bitוּנְשָׁכ֖וֹu.ne.sha.KhoH5391him.

20Shallnot the dayי֥וֹםYomH3117of Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068bedarknessחֹ֛שֶׁךְCho.shekhH2822,and not lightא֑וֹר'orH216?even very darkוְאָפֵ֖לve.'a.FelH651,and no brightnessנֹ֥גַֽהּNo.gahH5051in it?

21I hateשָׂנֵ֥אתִיsa.Ne.tiH8130,I despiseמָאַ֖סְתִּיma.'As.tiH3988your feast daysחַגֵּיכֶ֑םcha.gei.KhemH2282,and I will not smellאָרִ֖יחַ'a.Ri.achH7306in your solemn assembliesבְּעַצְּרֹֽתֵיכֶֽם׃be.'a.tze.Ro.tei.KhemH6116.

22Though ye offerתַּעֲלוּ־ta.'a.lu-H5927me burnt offeringsעֹל֛וֹתo.LotH5930and your grain offeringsוּמִנְחֹתֵיכֶ֖םu.min.cho.tei.KhemH4503,I will not acceptאֶרְצֶ֑ה'er.TzehH7521them:neither will I regardאַבִּֽיט׃'a.BitH5027the peace offeringsוְשֶׁ֥לֶםve.She.lemH8002of your fat beastsמְרִיאֵיכֶ֖םme.ri.'ei.KhemH4806.

23Take thou awayהָסֵ֥רha.SerH5493from me the noiseהֲמ֣וֹןha.MonH1995of thy songsשִׁרֶ֑יךָshi.Rei.khaH7892;for I will not hearאֶשְׁמָֽע׃'esh.Ma'H8085the melodyוְזִמְרַ֥תve.zim.RatH2172of thy violsנְבָלֶ֖יךָne.va.Lei.khaH5035.

24But let judgmentמִשְׁפָּ֑טmish.PatH4941run downוְיִגַּ֥לve.yi.GalH1556as watersכַּמַּ֖יִםka.Ma.yimH4325,and righteousnessוּצְדָקָ֖הu.tze.da.KahH6666as a mightyאֵיתָֽן׃'ei.TanH386streamכְּנַ֥חַלke.Na.chalH5158.

25Have ye offeredהִֽגַּשְׁתֶּם־hi.gash.tem-H5066unto me sacrificesהַזְּבָחִ֨יםha.ze.va.ChimH2077and offeringsוּמִנְחָ֜הu.min.ChahH4503in the wildernessבַמִּדְבָּ֛רva.mid.BarH4057fortyאַרְבָּעִ֥ים'ar.ba.'ImH705yearsשָׁנָ֖הsha.NahH8141,O houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478?

26But ye have borneוּנְשָׂאתֶ֗םu.ne.sa.TemH5375the tabernacleסִכּ֣וּתsi.KutH5522of your Molochמַלְכְּכֶ֔םmal.ke.KhemH4428and Chiunכִּיּ֣וּןki.YunH3594your imagesצַלְמֵיכֶ֑םtzal.mei.KhemH6754,the starכּוֹכַב֙ko.KhavH3556of your godאֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם'e.Lo.hei.KhemH430,which ye madeעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם'a.si.TemH6213to yourselves.

27Therefore will I cause you to go into captivityוְהִגְלֵיתִ֥יve.hig.lei.TiH1540beyondמֵהָ֣לְאָהme.Hal.'ahH1973Damascusלְדַמָּ֑שֶׂקle.da.Ma.sekH1834,saithאָמַ֛ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068,whose nameשְׁמֽוֹ׃ פshe.MoH8034isThe Godאֱלֹהֵֽי־'e.lo.hei-H430of Armiesצְבָא֖וֹתtze.va.'otH6635.

Commentaries on Amos 5