Amos 5:24

24 But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!

Amos 5:24 in Other Translations

24 But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

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

24 Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.

24 Do you know what I want? I want justice - oceans of it. I want fairness - rivers of it. That's what I want. That's all I want.

24 But let justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

24 But let justice flow like a river and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

24 But let justice flow like water, and righteousness, like an unfailing stream.

24 I want you to treat others fairly. So let fair treatment roll on just as a river does! Always do what is right. Let right living flow along like a stream that never runs dry!

Amos 5:24 Meaning and Commentary

Amos 5:24

But let judgments run down as waters
Or "roll" ^F15; in abundance, with great rapidity, bearing down all before them, which nothing can resist; signifying the plenty of justice done in the land, the full and free exercise of it, without any stoppage or intermission: and righteousness as a mighty stream;
the same thing expressed in different words; though some think that not the execution of judgment and justice by men is here exhorted to, but the vindictive justice of God is threatened; which like a mighty torrent of water should come down, overwhelm, bear away, and destroy all before it, even all the transgressors in Israel.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 (lgyw) "volvatur", Munster, Mercerus, Liveleus, Drusius; "volvat se", Montanus, Vatablus; "revolvet se", Piscator; "provolvatur", Cocceius.

Amos 5:24 In-Context

22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them.

23 Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.

24 But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!

25 “Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?

26 You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god — which you made for yourselves.

Cross References

• 1. S Jeremiah 22:3
• 2. S Isaiah 45:8
• 3. Micah 6:8