Amos 5 from Scroll 4Q82 Minor Prophets^g

1 Listen to this word which I take up for a lamentation over you, O house of Israel.

2 “The virgin of Israel has fallen;

She shall rise no more.

She is cast down on her land;

there is no one to raise her up.”

[..]

9 who brings sudden destruction on the strong,

so that destruction comes on the fortress.

[..]

11 Therefore, because you trample on the poor,

and take taxes from him of wheat:

You have built houses of cut stone,

but you will not dwell in them.

You have planted pleasant vineyards,

but you shall not drink their wine.

12 For I know how many your offenses,

and how great are your sins—

you who afflict the just,

who take a bribe,

and who turn away the needy in the courts.

13 Therefore a prudent person keeps silent in such a time,

for it is an evil time.

14 Seek good, and not evil,

that you may live;

and so Yahweh, the God of Armies, will be with you,

as you say.

15 Hate evil, love good,

and establish justice in the courts.

It may be that Yahweh, the God of Armies, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”

16 Therefore Yahweh, the God of Armies, the Lord, says:

“Wailing will be in all the wide ways;

and they will say in all the streets, ‘Alas! Alas!’

and they will call the farmer to mourning,

and those who are skillful in lamentation to wailing.

17 In all vineyards there will be wailing;

for I will pass through the middle of you,” says Yahweh.

18 “Woe to you who desire the day of Yahweh!

Why do you long for the day of Yahweh?

It is darkness,

and not light.