Amos 5:14

Sin Justice God's presence Hope

¹² For I know that your transgressions are many and your sins are numerous. You oppress the righteous by taking bribes; you deprive the poor of justice in the gate.

¹³ Therefore, the prudent keep silent in such times, for the days are evil.

Seek good, not evil, so that you may live. And the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be with you, as you have claimed.

¹⁵ Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate. Perhaps the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”

¹⁶ Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Hosts, the Lord, says: “There will be wailing in all the public squares and cries of ‘Alas! Alas!’ in all the streets. The farmer will be summoned to mourn, and the mourners to wail.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Seek good, not evil, so that you may live. And the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be with you, as you have claimed.
KJV: 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.
WEB: Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of Armies, will be with you, as you say.
ASV: Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live; and so Jehovah, the God of hosts, will be with you, as ye say.
DARBY: Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live; and so Jehovah, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye say.
BLB: Seek good and not evil, so that you⁺ may live; and it will come to pass that YHWH, God of Hosts, [is] with you⁺, as you⁺ have spoken.

ÅB: Søk det gode og ikke det onde, så dere får leve. Da skal Herren, hærskarenes Gud, være med dere, slik som dere har sagt.
OTB: Søk det gode og ikke det onde, så dere kan leve;
og så vil Herren Gud Allmektig være med dere,
slik som dere sier.
B1930: Søk det gode og ikke det onde, så I får leve. Da skal Herren, hærskarenes Gud, være med eder, således som I har sagt.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Read in context
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
Read in context
Philippians 4:8–9
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.
Read in context
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Read in context
Micah 3:11
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.”
Read in context
2 Timothy 4:22
The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.
Read in context
Genesis 39:2–3
And the LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.
Read in context
Psalms 34:12–16
Who is the man who delights in life, who desires to see good days?
Read in context