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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Amos - Chapter 5

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Hear this word which I intone As a dirge over you, O House of Yisrael:

SHI-m'u et ha-DA-var ha-ZEH a-SHER a-NO-khi no-SAY a-LE-khem KI-nah BAYT yis-ra-AYL

אשִׁמְע֞וּ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֜י נֹשֵׂ֧א עֲלֵיכֶ֛ם קִינָ֖ה בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

2Fallen, not to rise again, Is Maiden Yisrael; Abandoned on her soil With none to lift her up.

na-F'-LAH lo to-SEEF KUM b'-tu-LAT yis-ra-AYL nit-SHAH al ad-ma-TAH AYN m'-KI-ma

בנָֽפְלָה֙ לֹא־תוֹסִ֣יף ק֔וּם בְּתוּלַ֖ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל נִטְּשָׁ֥ה עַל־אַדְמָתָ֖הּ אֵ֥ין מְקִימָֽהּ׃

3For thus said my God About the House of Yisrael: The town that marches out a thousand strong Shall have a hundred left, And the one that marches out a hundred strong Shall have but ten left.

KI kho a-MAR a-do-NAI a-do-NAI, ha-IR ha-yo-TZE-et e-LEF tash-EER me-AH, v'-ha-yo-TZE-et me-AH tash-EER a-sa-RAH l'-VEYT yis-ra-AYL.

גכִּ֣י כֹ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה הָעִ֛יר הַיֹּצֵ֥את אֶ֖לֶף תַּשְׁאִ֣יר מֵאָ֑ה וְהַיּוֹצֵ֥את מֵאָ֛ה תַּשְׁאִ֥יר עֲשָׂרָ֖ה לְבֵ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

4Thus said Hashem To the House of Yisrael: Seek Me, and you will live.

KI KHO a-MAR a-do-NAI l'-VEYT yis-ra-AYL dir-SHU-nee vi-KHYU

דכִּ֣י כֹ֥ה אָמַ֛ר יְהֹוָ֖ה לְבֵ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל דִּרְשׁ֖וּנִי וִֽחְיֽוּ׃

5Do not seek Beit El, Nor go to Gilgal, Nor cross over to Be'erSheva; For Gilgal shall go into exile, And Beit El shall become a delusion.

v'-al ti-d'-R'-shu bayt-EL v'-ha-gil-GAL lo ta-vo-U u-v'-AYR SHE-va lo ta-a-vo-ru, ki ha-gil-GAL ga-LO yig-LEH u-bayt-EL yi-HE-yeh l'-a-VON

הוְאַֽל־תִּדְרְשׁוּ֙ בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל וְהַגִּלְגָּל֙ לֹ֣א תָבֹ֔אוּ וּבְאֵ֥ר שֶׁ֖בַע לֹ֣א תַעֲבֹ֑רוּ כִּ֤י הַגִּלְגָּל֙ גָּלֹ֣ה יִגְלֶ֔ה וּבֵֽית־אֵ֖ל יִהְיֶ֥ה לְאָֽוֶן׃

6Seek Hashem, and you will live, Else He will rush like fire upon the House of Yosef And consume Beit El with none to quench it.

DIR-shu et a-do-NAI vi-KHU, PEN yitz-LAKH ka-ESH, BAYT yo-SEF, v'-a-KH-la v'-AYN m'-ka-BEH l'-BAYT-EL.

ודִּרְשׁ֥וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֖ה וִֽחְי֑וּ פֶּן־יִצְלַ֤ח כָּאֵשׁ֙ בֵּ֣ית יוֹסֵ֔ף וְאָכְלָ֥ה וְאֵין־מְכַבֶּ֖ה לְבֵֽית־אֵֽל׃

7[Ah,] you who turn justice into wormwood And hurl righteousness to the ground! [Seek Hashem,]

ha-ho-f'-KHIM l'-la-a-NAH mish-PAT u-tz'-da-KAH la-A-retz hi-NI-khu

זהַהֹפְכִ֥ים לְלַעֲנָ֖ה מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה לָאָ֥רֶץ הִנִּֽיחוּ׃

8Who made the Pleiades and Orion, Who turns deep darkness into dawn And darkens day into night, Who summons the waters of the sea And pours them out upon the earth— His name is Hashem!

o-SEH khee-MAH u-k'-SEEL v'-ho-FEKH la-BO-kher tzal-MA-vet v'-YOM la-YE-lah he-KH'-shikh ha-ko-REH l'-MEI ha-YAM va-yish-p'-KHEM al p'-NAY ha-A-retz a-do-NAI sh'-MO

חעֹשֵׂ֨ה כִימָ֜ה וּכְסִ֗יל וְהֹפֵ֤ךְ לַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ צַלְמָ֔וֶת וְי֖וֹם לַ֣יְלָה הֶחְשִׁ֑יךְ הַקּוֹרֵ֣א לְמֵֽי־הַיָּ֗ם וַֽיִּשְׁפְּכֵ֛ם עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ יְהֹוָ֥ה שְׁמֽוֹ׃

9It is He who hurls destruction upon strongholds, So that ruin comes upon fortresses!

ha-mav-LIG shod al-AZ, v'-shod al-miv-TZAR ya-VO

טהַמַּבְלִ֥יג שֹׁ֖ד עַל־עָ֑ז וְשֹׁ֖ד עַל־מִבְצָ֥ר יָבֽוֹא׃

10They hate the arbiter in the gate, And detest him whose plea is just.

sa-n'-U va-sha-AR mo-KHEE-aKH, v'-do-VAYR ta-MEEM y'-ta-EVU.

ישָׂנְא֥וּ בַשַּׁ֖עַר מוֹכִ֑יחַ וְדֹבֵ֥ר תָּמִ֖ים יְתָעֵֽבוּ׃

11Assuredly, Because you impose a tax on the poor And exact from him a levy of grain, You have built houses of hewn stone, But you shall not live in them; You have planted delightful vineyards, But shall not drink their wine.

la-KHEN ya-AN bo-shas-KHEM al-DAL u-mas-at-BAR tik-KHU mi-ME-nu ba-TEI ga-ZEET be-nee-TEM v'-LO te-SHE-vu BAM kar-MEI-khe-MED ne-ta-TEM v'-LO tish-TU et-yei-NAM

יאלָ֠כֵ֠ן יַ֣עַן בּוֹשַׁסְכֶ֞ם עַל־דָּ֗ל וּמַשְׂאַת־בַּר֙ תִּקְח֣וּ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ בָּתֵּ֥י גָזִ֛ית בְּנִיתֶ֖ם וְלֹא־תֵ֣שְׁבוּ בָ֑ם כַּרְמֵי־חֶ֣מֶד נְטַעְתֶּ֔ם וְלֹ֥א תִשְׁתּ֖וּ אֶת־יֵינָֽם׃

12For I have noted how many are your crimes, And how countless your sins— You enemies of the righteous, You takers of bribes, You who subvert in the gate The cause of the needy!

ki ya-da-TI ra-BEEM pish-EY-khem va-a-tzu-MEEM cha-to-TEY-khem tzo-r'-RAY tza-DIK lo-k'-KHEY ko-FER v'-ev-yo-NEEM ba-sha-AR hi-TU

יבכִּ֤י יָדַ֙עְתִּי֙ רַבִּ֣ים פִּשְׁעֵיכֶ֔ם וַעֲצֻמִ֖ים חַטֹּאתֵיכֶ֑ם צֹרְרֵ֤י צַדִּיק֙ לֹ֣קְחֵי כֹ֔פֶר וְאֶבְיוֹנִ֖ים בַּשַּׁ֥עַר הִטּֽוּ׃

13Assuredly, At such a time the prudent man keeps silent, For it is an evil time.

la-KHEN ha-mas-KIL ba-ET ha-HEE yi-DOM, KI ET ra-AH HI

יגלָכֵ֗ן הַמַּשְׂכִּ֛יל בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִ֖יא יִדֹּ֑ם כִּ֛י עֵ֥ת רָעָ֖ה הִֽיא׃

14Seek good and not evil, That you may live, And that Hashem, the God of Hosts, May truly be with you, As you think.

DIR-shu-TOV v'-al-RA l'-ma-AN ti-KHYU, vi-Y'-hi-KHEN a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY t'-va-OT i-t'-KHEM ka-a-SHER a-mar-TEM.

ידדִּרְשׁוּ־ט֥וֹב וְאַל־רָ֖ע לְמַ֣עַן תִּֽחְי֑וּ וִֽיהִי־כֵ֞ן יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־צְבָא֛וֹת אִתְּכֶ֖ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲמַרְתֶּֽם׃

15Hate evil and love good, And establish justice in the gate; Perhaps Hashem, the God of Hosts, Will be gracious to the remnant of Yosef.

siN-u-RA v'-e-he-VU TOV v'-ha-tsi-GU va-sha-AR mish-PAT u-LAI ye-khe-NAN a-do-NAI e-lo-HEI t'-va-OT she-e-REET yo-SEF.

טושִׂנְאוּ־רָע֙ וְאֶ֣הֱבוּ ט֔וֹב וְהַצִּ֥יגוּ בַשַּׁ֖עַר מִשְׁפָּ֑ט אוּלַ֗י יֶחֱנַ֛ן יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁאֵרִ֥ית יוֹסֵֽף׃

16Assuredly, Thus said Hashem, My Lord, the God of Hosts: In every square there shall be lamenting, In every street cries of “Ah, woe!” And the farm hand shall be Called to mourn, And those skilled in wailing To lament;

la-KHEN ko-AMAR a-do-NAI e-lo-HEI t'-va-OT a-do-NAI b'-KOL r'-KHOT mis-PEID u-v'-KOL-KHU-tzot yo-M'-RU ho-ho v'-ko-RE-u i-KAR el e-VEL u-mis-PEID el yo-d'-AY ne-HEI

טזלָ֠כֵ֠ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֨ר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י צְבָאוֹת֙ אֲדֹנָ֔י בְּכׇל־רְחֹב֣וֹת מִסְפֵּ֔ד וּבְכׇל־חוּצ֖וֹת יֹאמְר֣וּ הוֹ־ה֑וֹ וְקָרְא֤וּ אִכָּר֙ אֶל־אֵ֔בֶל וּמִסְפֵּ֖ד אֶל־י֥וֹדְעֵי נֶֽהִי׃

17For there shall be lamenting In every vineyard, too, When I pass through your midst —said Hashem.

u-v'-KOL k'-ra-MEEM mis-PEID, KEE e-e-VOR b'-kir-B'-KHA a-MAR a-do-NAI.

יזוּבְכׇל־כְּרָמִ֖ים מִסְפֵּ֑ד כִּֽי־אֶעֱבֹ֥ר בְּקִרְבְּךָ֖ אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃

18Ah, you who wish For the day of Hashem! Why should you want The day of Hashem? It shall be darkness, not light!—

HOY ha-mit-a-VIM et-YOM a-do-NAI, la-MAH-ZEH la-KHEM YOM a-do-NAI, hu-KHO-shekh v'-lo-OR.

יחה֥וֹי הַמִּתְאַוִּ֖ים אֶת־י֣וֹם יְהֹוָ֑ה לָמָּה־זֶּ֥ה לָכֶ֛ם י֥וֹם יְהֹוָ֖ה הוּא־חֹ֥שֶׁךְ וְלֹא־אֽוֹר׃

19As if a man should run from a lion And be attacked by a bear; Or if he got indoors, Should lean his hand on the wall And be bitten by a snake!

ka-a-SHER ya-NUS eesh mi-p'-NAY ha-a-REE u-f'-GA-o ha-DOV u-VA ha-BA-yit v'-SA-makh ya-DO al ha-KIR u-ne-SHA-ko ha-NA-khash

יטכַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יָנ֥וּס אִישׁ֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י הָאֲרִ֔י וּפְגָע֖וֹ הַדֹּ֑ב וּבָ֣א הַבַּ֔יִת וְסָמַ֤ךְ יָדוֹ֙ עַל־הַקִּ֔יר וּנְשָׁכ֖וֹ הַנָּחָֽשׁ׃

20Surely the day of Hashem shall be Not light, but darkness, Blackest night without a glimmer.

ha-LO-khosh YOM a-do-NAI v'-LO-or v'-a-FEL v'-LO-no-GAH lo

כהֲלֹא־חֹ֛שֶׁךְ י֥וֹם יְהֹוָ֖ה וְלֹא־א֑וֹר וְאָפֵ֖ל וְלֹא־נֹ֥גַֽהּ לֽוֹ׃

21I loathe, I spurn your festivals, I am not appeased by your solemn assemblies.

sa-NEE-tee ma-a-STEE cha-GEY-khem v'-LO a-REE-akh b'-a-tz'-ro-TEY-khem

כאשָׂנֵ֥אתִי מָאַ֖סְתִּי חַגֵּיכֶ֑ם וְלֹ֥א אָרִ֖יחַ בְּעַצְּרֹתֵיכֶֽם׃

22If you offer Me burnt offerings—or your meal offerings— I will not accept them; I will pay no heed To your gifts of fatlings.

ki im-ta-a-LU-li o-LOT u-min-cho-TE-khem lo er-TSEH, v'-SHE-lem me-ree-E-khem lo a-BEET

כבכִּ֣י אִם־תַּעֲלוּ־לִ֥י עֹל֛וֹת וּמִנְחֹתֵיכֶ֖ם לֹ֣א אֶרְצֶ֑ה וְשֶׁ֥לֶם מְרִיאֵיכֶ֖ם לֹ֥א אַבִּֽיט׃

23Spare Me the sound of your hymns, And let Me not hear the music of your lutes.

ha-SEIR me-a-LAI ha-MON shi-RE-kha v'-zim-RAT ne-va-LE-kha lo esh-MA

כגהָסֵ֥ר מֵעָלַ֖י הֲמ֣וֹן שִׁרֶ֑יךָ וְזִמְרַ֥ת נְבָלֶ֖יךָ לֹ֥א אֶשְׁמָֽע׃

24But let justice well up like water, Righteousness like an unfailing stream.

v'-yi-GAL ka-MA-yim mish-PAT utz-da-KAH k'-NA-khal ay-TAN

כדוְיִגַּ֥ל כַּמַּ֖יִם מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה כְּנַ֥חַל אֵיתָֽן׃

5:24  Righteousness like an unfailing stream

Flash flood water in the Judean desert

Having rejected rote ritual worship that is not accompanied by moral behavior (verse 22), Amos makes a simple statement: He declares that Hashem desires justice and righteousness. Though the Land of Israel has only one rainy season, when the rainfall builds up and finally overflows, the creeks and brooks are filled from the swiftly flowing rivers and there are even flash floods. So too, the desire for justice and righteousness should build up in the people until it overflows “like an unfailing stream”.

25Did you offer sacrifice and oblation to Me Those forty years in the wilderness, O House of Yisrael?

ha-Z'-va-KHEEM u-min-KHAH hi-GASH-tem-LEE ba-mid-BAR ar-BA-eem sha-NAH bayt yis-ra-AYL

כההַזְּבָחִ֨ים וּמִנְחָ֜ה הִֽגַּשְׁתֶּם־לִ֧י בַמִּדְבָּ֛ר אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

26And you shall carry off your “king”— Sikkuth and Kiyyun, The images you have made for yourselves Of your astral deity—

u-n'-sa-TEM et si-KUT mal-K'-KHEM v'-ET ki-YUN tza-l'-MEY-khem ko-KHAV e-lo-HEY-khem a-SHER a-see-TEM la-KHEM

כווּנְשָׂאתֶ֗ם אֵ֚ת סִכּ֣וּת מַלְכְּכֶ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת כִּיּ֣וּן צַלְמֵיכֶ֑ם כּוֹכַב֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם לָכֶֽם׃

27As I drive you into exile beyond Damascus —Said Hashem, whose name is God of Hosts.

v'-hi-g'-LEE-tee et-KHEM me-ha-LEH-a l'-da-ma-SEK, a-MAR a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY t'-va-OT sh'-MO.

כזוְהִגְלֵיתִ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם מֵהָ֣לְאָה לְדַמָּ֑שֶׂק אָמַ֛ר יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁמֽוֹ׃