Amos 5:18-26
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 5
18Woe to you who are longing for the day of the Lord, For what purpose will the day of the Lord be to you? It will be darkness and not light; 19As when a man flees from a lion And a bear confronts him, Or he goes home, leans with his hand against the wall, And a snake bites him. 20 Will the day of the Lord not be darkness instead of light, Even gloom with no brightness in it? 21'I hate, I reject your festivals, Nor do I delight in your festive assemblies. 22Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fattened oxen. 23Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. 24But let justice roll out like waters, And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.King James Version
20Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 5
18Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord! What will the day of the Lord be for you? It will be darkness and not light. 19It will be like a man who flees from a lion only to have a bear confront him. He goes home and rests his hand against the wall only to have a snake bite him. 20Won’t the day of the Lord be darkness rather than light, even gloom without any brightness in it? 21I hate, I despise, your feasts! I can’t stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. 22Even if you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; I will have no regard for your fellowship offerings of fattened cattle. 23Take away from me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. 24But let justice flow like water, and righteousness, like an unfailing stream.New Living Translation
Chapter 5
18What sorrow awaits you who say, 'If only the day of the Lord were here!' You have no idea what you are wishing for. That day will bring darkness, not light. 19In that day you will be like a man who runs from a lion — only to meet a bear. Escaping from the bear, he leans his hand against a wall in his house — and he’s bitten by a snake. 20Yes, the day of the Lord will be dark and hopeless, without a ray of joy or hope.
21'I hate all your show and pretense — the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.
22I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings.
23Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps.
24Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.
English Standard Version
Chapter 5
18Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! Why would you have the day of the Lord? It is darkness, and not light, 19 as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him, or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall, and a serpent bit him. 20 Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it? 21 "I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. 22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. 23Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. 24But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. 25"Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? 26You shall take up Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your star-god — your images that you made for yourselves,New International Version
Chapter 5
18Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord! Why do you long for the day of the Lord? That day will be darkness, not light. 19It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him.
20Will not the day of the Lord be darkness, not light— pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?
21"I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me.
22Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them.
23Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.
24But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!
25"Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?
26You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god — which you made for yourselves.
New King James Version