Amos 2:8

2:8 They stretch out on clothing seized as collateral;

they do so right ¹  beside every altar!

They drink wine bought with the fines they have levied;

they do so right in the temple ²  of their God! ³ 

Amos 5:1

Death is Imminent

5:1 Listen to this funeral song I am ready to sing about you, ⁴  family ⁵  of Israel:

Amos 5:25

5:25 You did not bring me ⁶  sacrifices and grain offerings during the forty years you spent in the wilderness, family ⁷  of Israel.

Amos 7:9

7:9 Isaac’s centers of worship ⁸  will become desolate;

Israel’s holy places will be in ruins.

I will attack Jeroboam’s dynasty with the sword.” ⁹ 

[2:8]  ¹ tn The words “They do so right” are supplied twice in the translation of this verse for clarification.

[2:8]  ² tn Heb “house.”

[2:8]  ³ tn Or “gods.” The Hebrew term אֱלֹהֵיהֶם (’elohehem) may be translated “their gods” (referring to pagan gods), “their god” (referring to a pagan god, cf. NAB, NIV, NLT), or “their God” (referring to the God of Israel, cf. NASB, NRSV).

[5:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “Listen to this word which I am about to take up against you, a funeral song.”

[5:1]  ⁵ tn Heb “house.”

[5:25]  ⁷ tn Heb “Did you bring me…?” This rhetorical question expects a negative answer. The point seems to be this: Since sacrifices did not characterize God’s relationship with Israel during the nation’s formative years, the people should not consider them to be so fundamental. The Lord places a higher priority on justice than he does on empty ritual.

[5:25]  ⁸ tn Heb “house.”

[7:9]  ¹⁰ tn Traditionally, “the high places” (so KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV); NLT “pagan shrines.”

[7:9]  ¹¹ tn Heb “And I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with a sword.”