Amos 2:6

Poverty and the vulnerable Justice

⁴ This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Judah, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they reject the Law of the LORD and fail to keep His statutes; they are led astray by the lies in which their fathers walked.

⁵ So I will send fire upon Judah to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.”

This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Israel, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals.

⁷ They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the earth; they push the needy out of their way. A man and his father have relations with the same girl and so profane My holy name.

⁸ They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. And in the house of their God, they drink wine obtained through fines.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Israel, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals.
KJV: Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
WEB: The LORD says: “For three transgressions of Israel, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they have sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals;
ASV: Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Israel, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes-
DARBY: Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke its sentence; because they have sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes;
BLB: Thus says YHWH: “Over three transgressions of Israel, even over four, I will not turn back—over their selling the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals.

ÅB: Så sier Herren: For tre misgjerninger av Israel, ja for fire vil jeg ikke ta det tilbake - fordi de selger den uskyldige for penger og den fattige for et par sko,
OTB: Dette sier Herren:
«For tre overtredelser av Israel, og for fire,
vil jeg ikke tilbakekalle straffen,
fordi de selger den rettferdige for penger,
og den fattige for et par sandaler.
B1930: Så sier Herren: For tre misgjerninger av Israel, ja for fire vil jeg ikke ta det tilbake - fordi de selger den uskyldige for penger og den fattige for et par sko,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Joel 3:3
They cast lots for My people; they bartered a boy for a prostitute and sold a girl for wine to drink.
Read in context
Amos 5:11–12
Therefore, because you trample on the poor and exact from him a tax of grain, you will never live in the stone houses you have built; you will never drink the wine from the lush vineyards you have planted.
Read in context
Micah 3:2–3
You hate good and love evil. You tear the skin from my people and strip the flesh from their bones.
Read in context
Amos 8:4–6
Hear this, you who trample the needy, who do away with the poor of the land,
Read in context
Ezekiel 23:5–9
Oholah prostituted herself while she was still Mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians—warriors
Read in context
Isaiah 29:21
those who indict a man with a word, who ensnare the mediator at the gate, and who with false charges deprive the innocent of justice.
Read in context
Isaiah 5:22–23
Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine and champions in mixing beer,
Read in context
Joel 3:6
You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, to send them far from their homeland.
Read in context