Amos 5:16-18

Contemporary English Version

Judgment Is Coming

¹⁶This is what the Lord has sworn:

Noisy crying will be heard
    in every town and street.
Even farmers will be told
    to mourn for the dead,
together with those
    who are paid to mourn.^[a]
¹⁷Your vineyards will be filled
with crying and weeping,^[b]
    because I will punish you.
I, the Lord, have spoken!

When the Lord Judges

¹⁸You look forward to the day
when the Lord comes to judge.
But you are in for trouble!
It won't be a time of sunshine;
all will be darkness.

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Footnotes

5.16 paid to mourn: In ancient times some people were paid to mourn and make loud cries at funerals.
5.17 Your vineyards … weeping: Instead of happy celebrations that were often held in vineyards after the harvest.