Amos 5:6-7, 10-15

6 Turn back to the Lord,

you descendants of Joseph,

n 5.6 descendants of Joseph: Another name for the people of the northern kingdom of Israel.

and you will live.

If you don't, the Lord

will attack like fire.

Bethel will burn to the ground,

and no one can save it.

7 You people are doomed!

You twist the truth

and stomp on justice.

10 You people hate judges

and honest witnesses;

11 you abuse the poor and demand

heavy taxes from them.

You have built expensive homes,

but you won't enjoy them;

you have planted vineyards,

but you will get no wine.

12 I am the Lord, and I know

your terrible sins.

You cheat honest people

and take bribes;

you rob the poor of justice.

13 Times are so evil

that anyone with good sense

will keep quiet.

14 If you really want to live,

you must stop doing wrong

and start doing right.

I, the Lord God All-Powerful,

will then be on your side,

just as you claim I am.

15 Choose good instead of evil!

See that justice is done.

Maybe I, the Lord All-Powerful,

will be kind to what's left

of your people.

p 5.15 your people: Hebrew “Joseph's descendants” (see the note at verse 6).