How we cite our quotes:
Quote #4
Therefore because you trample on the poor and take from them levies of grain, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not live in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. For I know how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins—you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and push aside the needy in the gate. (NRSV Amos 5:11-12)
Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them. For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right. (KJV Amos 5:11-12)
Karma has a way of catching up. God will get the wealthy oppressors where they live—take away all the trappings of wealth like big houses and wine cellars. The problem with the wealthy and powerful in Israel, Amos says, is that they have no sense of social responsibility—there’s no regard for fairness or concern for those who are less fortunate.
It’s a good thing people don’t act like that today.
Quote #5
Alas for those who devise wickedness and evil deeds on their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in their power. They covet fields, and seize them; houses, and take them away; they oppress householder and house, people and their inheritance. (NRSV Micah 2:1-2)
Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! When the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage. (KJV Micah 2:1-2)
In ancient Israel and Judah, a house is more than a home. It’s a family’s birthright—it gives them food to live, things to sell and security for future generations. That’s why taking a person’s land is so bad—it’s like you’re wiping out the whole family. Also worth noting: the bad guys here are piling up wealth but not doing any physical labor. Yahweh isn’t sold on the whole “Greed is good” shtick. Wealth and power are seen as addictive.
Quote #6
Hear this, you rulers of the house of Jacob and chiefs of the house of Israel, who abhor justice and pervert all equity, who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with wrong! Its rulers give judgment for a bribe, its priests teach for a price, its prophets give oracles for money; yet they lean upon the LORD and say, “Surely the LORD is with us! No harm shall come upon us.” Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height. (NRSV Micah 3:9-12)
Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity. They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us. Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest. (KJV Micah 3:9-12)
Everyone’s in on the prophecy and priesthood racket. The interesting twist here is that these guys are oblivious as well as corrupt; they’ve convinced themselves that God’s on their side. And as we see, this is another dramatic setup for the punishment to come. Anytime you see complacency in the Minor Prophets, you know that smelting time is around the corner.