rsv Amos:5:1-17 SEEK
Seeker Overlay ON
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Hear this word which I take up over you in lamentation ,
O house of Israel :
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Fallen ,
no more to rise ,
is the virgin Israel ;
forsaken on her land ,
with none to raise her up ."
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For thus says the Lord GOD : "
The city that went forth a thousand shall have a hundred left ,
and that which went forth a hundred shall have ten left to the house of Israel ."
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For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel : "
Seek me and live ;
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but do not seek Bethel ,
and do not enter into Gilgal or cross over to Beer-sheba ;
for Gilgal shall surely go into exile ,
and Bethel shall come to nought ."
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Seek the LORD and live ,
lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph ,
and it devour ,
with none to quench it for Bethel ,
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O you who turn justice to wormwood ,
and cast down righteousness to the earth !
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He who made the Plei '
ades and Orion ,
and turns deep darkness into the morning ,
and darkens the day into night ,
who calls for the waters of the sea ,
and pours them out upon the surface of the earth ,
the LORD is his name ,
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who makes destruction flash forth against the strong ,
so that destruction comes upon the fortress .
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They hate him who reproves in the gate ,
and they abhor him who speaks the truth .
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Therefore because you trample upon the poor and take from him exactions of wheat ,
you have built houses of hewn stone ,
but you shall not dwell in them ;
you have planted pleasant vineyards ,
but you shall not drink their wine .
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For I know how many are your transgressions ,
and how great are your sins--you who afflict the righteous ,
who take a bribe ,
and turn aside the needy in the gate .
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Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time ;
for it is an evil time .
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Seek good ,
and not evil ,
that you may live ;
and so the LORD ,
the God of hosts ,
will be with you ,
as you have said .
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Hate evil ,
and love good ,
and establish justice in the gate ;
it may be that the LORD ,
the God of hosts ,
will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph .
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Therefore thus says the LORD ,
the God of hosts ,
the Lord : "
In all the squares there shall be wailing ;
and in all the streets they shall say , '
Alas !
alas !'
They shall call the farmers to mourning and to wailing those who are skilled in lamentation ,
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and in all vineyards there shall be wailing ,
for I will pass through the midst of you ,"
says the LORD .