Amos 5:13
11 Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.
12 For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.
Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.
14 Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.
15 Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
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
- Therefore, the prudent keep silent in such times, for the days are evil.
- KJV
- Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.
- WEB
- Therefore a prudent person keeps silent in such a time, for it is an evil time.
- ASV
- Therefore he that is prudent shall keep silence in such a time; for it is an evil time.
- DARBY
- Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in this time; for it is an evil time.
- BLB
- Therefore, the one acting prudently at that time will keep silent, for it [is] an evil time.
- ÅB
- Derfor, den som er klok, han tier i denne tid; for det er en ond tid.
- OTB
- Derfor, de kloke tier i en slik tid,
for det er en ond tid. - B1930
- Derfor, den som er klok, han tier i denne tid; for det er en ond tid.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
2 Timothy 3:1
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
Read in contextHosea 4:4
Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
Read in contextEphesians 5:15–16
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Read in contextMicah 2:3
Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 3:7
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
Read in contextAmos 6:10
And a man’s uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.
Read in contextMicah 7:5–7
Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
Read in contextHabakkuk 3:16
When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.
Read in context