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Pentecost Season · Proper 23 · Year B

Amos 5:6-7, 10-15

Seek Good and Establish Justice

October 10, 2027

Allegory of Justice, Bernardino Mei
Allegory of Justice, Bernardino Mei, 17th centuryPrivate collection, via Wikimedia Commons
A Sienese Baroque allegory: Justice with her scales and sword, painted with the hard theatrical lighting Mei favoured.Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Amos wants the thing itself, not the figure of it.Bernardino MeiA Sienese painter of the Baroque, who worked in Rome and specialised in allegories with a cold, theatrical light.Private collection, via Wikimedia CommonsIn private hands; the painting is known from the public domain reproduction rather than from a wall.Private collection, via Wikimedia Commons
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelMark 10:17-31Mk 10:17-31
EpistleHeb. 4:12-16Heb 4:12-16
Old TestamentJob 23:1-9, 16-17Jb 23:1-9, 16-17Alt. OTAmos 5:6-7, 10-15Am 5:6-7, 10-15
PsalterPs. 22:1-15Ps 22:1-15Alt. PsalmPs. 90:12-17Ps 90:12-17

Overview & Insights

"Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you." (Amos 5:14)

The prophet indicts Israel for trampling the poor and corrupting justice in the courts, calling the nation to seek the Lord and to establish justice in the gate so that they may live.

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Take it further: Amos 5:6-7, 10-15

Commentary

Commentary on Amos 5:6-7, 10-15Commentary on Am 5:6-7, 10-15 Working Preacher

Exegetical commentary keyed to this exact Year B reading.

Amos 5 CommentaryAm 5 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse-by-verse notes on the call to seek good.

Amos 5:6 CommentariesAm 5:6 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentators on justice in the gate.

Amos 5 CommentaryAm 5 Commentary Precept Austin

Verse-level study notes gathering multiple sources.

Coffman's Commentary on Amos 5Coffman's Commentary on Am 5 StudyLight

A fifth commentary voice on the chapter.

Background & Word Study

Amos 5 in HebrewAm 5 in Hebrew Sefaria

Hebrew text with English and classical Jewish commentary.

Interlinear: Amos 5:6Interlinear: Am 5:6 BibleHub

Hebrew text with parsing for close word study.

Book of Amos OverviewBook of Am Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of Amos's message of justice and judgment.

The Church Fathers

Catena on Amos 5Catena on Am 5 Catena

Patristic reflection on the prophetic call to justice.

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