Amos 5:13

5:13 For this reason whoever is smart ¹  keeps quiet ²  in such a time,

for it is an evil ³  time.

Amos 5:21

5:21 “I absolutely despise ⁴  your festivals!

I get no pleasure ⁵  from your religious assemblies!

Amos 6:6

6:6 They drink wine from sacrificial bowls, ⁶ 

and pour the very best oils on themselves. ⁷ 

Yet they are not concerned over ⁸  the ruin ⁹  of Joseph.

Amos 9:10

9:10 All the sinners among my people will die by the sword –

the ones who say, ‘Disaster will not come near, it will not confront us.’

[5:13]  ¹ tn Or “the wise”; or “the prudent.” Another option is to translate “the successful, prosperous” and understand this as a reference to the rich oppressors. See G. V. Smith, Amos, 169-70. In this case the following verb will also have a different nuance, that is, the wealthy remain silent before the abuses they perpetuate. See the note on the verb translated “keeps quiet” later in this verse.

[5:13]  ² tn Or “moans, laments,” from a homonymic verbal root. If the rich oppressors are in view, then the verb (whether translated “will be silenced” or “will lament”) describes the result of God’s judgment upon them. See G. V. Smith, Amos, 170.

[5:13]  ³ tn If this is a judgment announcement against the rich, then the Hebrew phrase עֵת רָעָה (’et ra’ah) must be translated, “[a] disastrous time.” See G. V. Smith, Amos, 170.

[5:21]  ⁴ tn Heb “I hate”; “I despise.”

[5:21]  ⁵ tn Heb “I will not smell.” These verses are full of vivid descriptions of the Lord’s total rejection of Israelite worship. In the first half of this verse two verbs are used together for emphasis. Here the verb alludes to the sense of smell, a fitting observation since offerings would have been burned on the altar ideally to provide a sweet aroma to God (see, e.g., Lev 1:9, 13, 17; Num 29:36). Other senses that are mentioned include sight and hearing in vv. 22-23.

[6:6]  ⁷ sn Perhaps some religious rite is in view, or the size of the bowls is emphasized (i.e., bowls as large as sacrificial bowls).

[6:6]  ⁸ tn Heb “with the best of oils they anoint [themselves].”

[6:6]  ⁹ tn Or “not sickened by.”

[6:6]  ¹⁰ sn The ruin of Joseph may refer to the societal disintegration in Israel, or to the effects of the impending judgment.