Amos 6:6

6:6 They drink wine from sacrificial bowls, ¹ 

and pour the very best oils on themselves. ² 

Yet they are not concerned over ³  the ruin ⁴  of Joseph.

Amos 8:5

8:5 You say,

“When will the new moon festival ⁵  be over, ⁶  so we can sell grain?

When will the Sabbath end, ⁷  so we can open up the grain bins? ⁸ 

We’re eager ⁹  to sell less for a higher price, ¹⁰ 

and to cheat the buyer with rigged scales! ¹¹ 

[6:6]  ¹ 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]  ² tn Heb “with the best of oils they anoint [themselves].”

[6:6]  ³ tn Or “not sickened by.”

[6:6]  ⁴ sn The ruin of Joseph may refer to the societal disintegration in Israel, or to the effects of the impending judgment.

[8:5]  ⁵ sn Apparently work was prohibited during the new moon festival, just as it was on the Sabbath.

[8:5]  ⁶ tn Heb “pass by.”

[8:5]  ⁷ tn The verb, though omitted in the Hebrew text, is supplied in the translation from the parallel line.

[8:5]  ⁸ tn Heb “sell grain.” Here “grain” could stand by metonymy for the bins where it was stored.

[8:5]  ⁹ tn Here and in v. 6 the words “we’re eager” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[8:5]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “to make small the ephah and to make great the shekel.” The “ephah” was a unit of dry measure used to determine the quantity purchased, while the “shekel” was a standard weight used to determine the purchase price. By using a smaller than standard ephah and a heavier than standard shekel, these merchants were able to increase their profit (“sell less for a higher price”) by cheating the buyer.

[8:5]  ¹¹ tn Heb “and to cheat with deceptive scales”; NASB, NIV “dishonest scales”; NRSV “false balances.”