Biblical Texts for the Topic.

“Mishpat and Zedaqah in Amos”

(Supplement 1 to Handouts on AMOS)

NB: biblical texts from NRSV

1.1 Amos 5:7 Ah, you that turn justice [mishpat] to wormwood, and bring righteousness [zedaqah] to the
ground!

1.2 Amos 5:24 But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

1.3 Amos 6:12 Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow the sea with oxen? But you have turned justice into
poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood—

1.4 Amos 5:15 Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God
of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

1.5 Isaiah 5:7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his
pleasant planting; he expected justice [mishpat], but saw bloodshed [mishpak]; righteousness [sedaqah],
but heard a cry!

1.6 Micah 6:8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do
justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

1.7 Amos 4:1 Hear this word, you cows of Bashan who are on Mount Samaria, who oppress the poor, who
crush the needy, who say to their husbands, "Bring something to drink!" 2 The Lord GOD has sworn by his
holiness: The time is surely coming upon you, when they shall take you away with hooks, even the last of
you with fishhooks. 3 Through breaches in the wall you shall leave, each one straight ahead; and you shall
be flung out into Harmon, says the LORD.

1.8 Amos 6:1 Alas for those who are at ease in Zion, and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria, the
notables of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel resorts! 2 Cross over to Calneh, and
see; from there go to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are
you better than these kingdoms? Or is your territory greater than their territory, 3 O
you that put far away the evil day, and bring near a reign of violence? 4 Alas for those
who lie on beds of ivory, and lounge on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock,
and calves from the stall; 5 who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and like
David improvise on instruments of music; 6 who drink wine from bowls, and anoint
themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! 7
Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile, and the revelry of the loungers
shall pass away.

1.9 Isaiah 5:11 Ah, you who rise early in the morning in pursuit of strong drink, who linger in the evening
to be inflamed by wine, 12 whose feasts consist of lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine, but who do
not regard the deeds of the LORD, or see the work of his hands! 13 Therefore my people go into exile
without knowledge; their nobles are dying of hunger, and their multitude is parched with thirst. 14 Therefore
Sheol has enlarged its appetite and opened its mouth beyond measure; the nobility of Jerusalem and her
multitude go down, her throng and all who exult in her. 15 People are bowed down, everyone is brought low,
and the eyes of the haughty are humbled. 16 But the LORD of hosts is exalted by justice, and the Holy God
shows himself holy by righteousness. 17 Then the lambs shall graze as in their pasture, fatlings and kids
shall feed among the ruins.

1.10 Amos 8:4 Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land, 5 saying,
"When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain; and the sabbath, so that we may offer wheat
for sale? We will make the ephah small and the shekel great, and practice deceit with false balances, 6
buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, and selling the sweepings of the wheat." 7 The
LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.