Amos 2:7-9
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
7 They trample the heads of the destitute
into the dust of the earth,
and force the lowly out of the way.
Son and father sleep with the same girl,[a]
profaning my holy name.
8 Upon garments taken in pledge
they recline beside any altar.[b](A)
Wine at treasury expense
they drink in their temples.
9 Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorites before them,
who were as tall as cedars,
and as strong as oak trees.
I destroyed their fruit above
and their roots beneath.(B)
Footnotes
- 2:7 Son and father sleep with the same girl: the crime condemned here may be the misuse of power by the rich who take unfair advantage of young women from the ranks of the poor and force themselves on them, thus adding oppression to the sin of impurity.
- 2:8 Upon garments…any altar: creditors kept the garments taken as pledges from the poor instead of returning them to their owners before nightfall as the law commanded (Ex 22:25; cf. Dt 24:12). Wine…in their temples: lavish feasts for the rich, serving the finest wines in great abundance (see 6:4–7) and funded by the treasuries of local temples (e.g., at Dan and Bethel). The Hebrew in this verse is difficult. Another possible translation would be: “And the wine of those who have been fined / they drink in the house of their god.”
Amos 2:7-9
New King James Version
7 They [a]pant after the dust of the earth which is on the head of the poor,
And (A)pervert the way of the humble.
(B)A man and his father go in to the same girl,
(C)To defile My holy name.
8 They lie down (D)by every altar on clothes (E)taken in pledge,
And drink the wine of [b]the condemned in the house of their god.
9 “Yet it was I who destroyed the (F)Amorite before them,
Whose height was like the (G)height of the cedars,
And he was as strong as the oaks;
Yet I (H)destroyed his fruit above
And his roots beneath.
Amos 2:7-9
English Standard Version
7 those who trample the head of the poor (A)into the dust of the earth
and (B)turn aside the way of the afflicted;
(C)a man and his father go in to the same girl,
so that my holy name is profaned;
8 they lay themselves down beside every altar
on garments (D)taken in pledge,
and in the house of their God they drink
the wine of those who have been fined.
9 “Yet (E)it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them,
(F)whose height was like the height of the cedars
and who was as strong as the oaks;
(G)I destroyed his fruit above
and his roots beneath.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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