Amos 6:5
3 You dismiss the day of calamity and bring near a reign of violence.
4 You lie on beds inlaid with ivory, and lounge upon your couches. You dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall.
You improvise songs on the harp like David and invent your own musical instruments.
6 You drink wine by the bowlful and anoint yourselves with the finest oils, but you fail to grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
7 Therefore, you will now go into exile as the first of the captives, and your feasting and lounging will come to an end.
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
- You improvise songs on the harp like David and invent your own musical instruments.
- KJV
- That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;
- WEB
- who strum on the strings of a harp, who invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;
- ASV
- that sing idle songs to the sound of the viol; that invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;
- DARBY
- that chant to the sound of the lute, [and] invent them instruments of music, like David;
- BLB
- those singing foolishly over the mouth of the harp, like David, devising for themselves all manner of song;
- ÅB
- som synger allslags tull til harpens toner og har uttenkt dere strengeinstrumenter, slik som David,
- OTB
- som klimprer på harpen
som David og finner opp for seg selv musikkinstrumenter, - B1930
- som synger allslags tull til harpens toner og har uttenkt eder strengeinstrumenter, likesom David,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Isaiah 5:12
At their feasts are the lyre and harp, tambourines and flutes and wine. They disregard the actions of the LORD and fail to see the work of His hands.
Read in contextAmos 5:23
Take away from Me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.
Read in contextAmos 8:3
“In that day,” declares the Lord GOD, “the songs of the temple will turn to wailing. Many will be the corpses, strewn in silence everywhere!”
Read in contextGenesis 31:27
Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, without even telling me? I would have sent you away with joy and singing, with tambourines and harps.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 2:8
and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—many concubines.
Read in contextRevelation 18:22
And the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will never ring out in you again. Nor will any craftsmen of any trade be found in you again, nor the sound of a millstone be heard in you again.
Read in context1 Peter 4:3
For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.
Read in context1 Chronicles 23:5
4,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the LORD with the instruments I have made for giving praise.”
Read in context