Pentecost Season · Proper 27 · Year A

Wisdom 6:12-16 or Amos 5:18-24

November 8, 2026

Holy Wisdom sits enthroned in fiery red at the centre, with Christ above and the saints standing in a row beneath her.Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her.Unknown Russian icon painterA painter of icons in the Yaroslavl school, one of the great centres of Russian church art in the seventeenth century.Yaroslavl Art MuseumThe Yaroslavl Art Museum on the Volga, whose icon collection is among the finest in Russia.Yaroslavl Art Museum

Revised Common Lectionary

GospelMatt. 25:1-13Mt 25:1-13

Epistle1 Thess. 4:13-181 Thes 4:13-18

Old TestamentJosh. 24:1-3a, 14-25Jos 24:1-3a, 14-25 Alt. OTWis. 6:12-16Wis 6:12-16 orAmos 5:18-24Am 5:18-24

PsalterPs. 78:1-7Ps 78:1-7 Alt. PsalmWis. 6:17-20Wis 6:17-20 orPs. 70Ps 70

Overview & Insights

“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24)

The theme of justice and righteousness runs throughout Amos, but is presented with particular focus in Amos 5. This chapter accuses Israel of numerous social injustices: trampling on the poor and extorting grain (their food) from them; paying bribes to judges in order to deprive the poor of justice; and corrupting the entire legal system in general (5:11–13). The terrible consequences are presented in the opening verses. Israel will fall (5:1–2) with only 10 percent surviving (5:3).

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Take it further: Wisdom 6:12-16 or Amos 5:18-24

Commentary

Commentary on Amos 5:18-24Commentary on Am 5:18-24 Working Preacher

The Lutheran home commentary on this Year A reading by a named seminary scholar.

Amos 5 - A Lamentation and Call to RepentanceAm 5 - A Lamentation and Call to Repentance Enduring Word · David Guzik

A verse-by-verse evangelical study of the day of the LORD and the demand for justice.

Amos 5:18 CommentariesAm 5:18 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse on empty worship and rolling justice.

Amos 5:18 Verse-by-Verse CommentaryAm 5:18 Verse-by-Verse Commentary StudyLight

A large library of expositors stacked verse by verse for a further voice on the passage.

Amos 5 CommentaryAm 5 Commentary Precept Austin

An inductive study page collecting word studies and cross references on the chapter.

Background & Word Study

Amos 5 (Hebrew and English)Am 5 (Hebrew and English) Sefaria

The Hebrew of the prophet's oracle alongside English with linked Jewish commentary.

Amos 5:18 InterlinearAm 5:18 Interlinear BibleHub

The Hebrew of the passage word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers, including the words for justice and righteousness.

Book of Amos OverviewBook of Am Overview BibleProject

An animated overview of Amos that frames its cry for justice against hollow religion.

The Church Fathers

Amos 5 (Catena)Am 5 (Catena) Catena

Patristic comments verse by verse on the day of the LORD and true worship.

Questions preachers ask

What are the two options for this reading?

Churches may read Amos 5, where God rejects festivals emptied of justice and calls for justice to “roll on like a river,” or the Wisdom of Solomon 6, where Lady Wisdom “is found by those who seek her,” pairing with the wise and foolish virgins of the Gospel.

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