Amos 5:7

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

There are those who turn justice into wormwood and cast righteousness to the ground.

American Standard Version (1901)

Ye who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth,

Bible in Basic English

You who make the work of judging a bitter thing, crushing down righteousness to the earth;

Free Bible Version

You twist justice and make it bitter, you throw integrity to the ground.

Geneva Bible 1599

They turne iudgement to wormewood, and leaue off righteousnes in the earth.

King James (Authorized) Version

Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,

Translation for Translators

You people distort what is fair/right and cause people to think that it is something that is very bitter; you treat good things as though they are evil.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Those people turn justice into a bitter thing and throw righteousness down to the ground!”

Noah Webster Bible

Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness on the earth,

World English Bible

You who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth!

Young's Literal Translation

Ye who are turning to wormwood judgment, And righteousness to the earth have put down,

Context

A Call to Repentance

⁶Seek the LORD and live, or He will sweep like fire through the house of Joseph; it will devour everything, with no one at Bethel to extinguish it. ⁷There are those who turn justice into wormwood and cast righteousness to the ground.

Summary

In this verse, the prophet Amos condemns the Israelites for perverting justice and righteousness. They had turned what is right and fair into something bitter and corrupt, showing a blatant disregard for God's standards. Amos calls them to repentance and to seek the Lord, emphasizing the importance of upholding justice and righteousness in their society. This verse serves as a reminder that God desires His people to live in accordance with His principles, showing love and fairness to one another. It warns against the consequences of straying from God's ways and the importance of returning to Him in genuine repentance.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Ye who turn judgment to wormwood - Who pervert judgment; causing him who obtains his suit to mourn sorely over the expenses he has incurred in gaining his right.