Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
8:5 Work was explicitly forbidden on the Sabbath day (Exod 20:9-10); Amos implies that shops were closed during pagan new-moon religious festivals as well. • Merchants were cheating their customers by measuring grain with small ephahs and cheating their suppliers by using heavy shekels on the scales. This practice was forbidden by God’s law (Lev 19:35-36; Deut 25:13-16; see Prov 11:1; 16:11; 20:10, 23).
Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
8:5 Work was explicitly forbidden on the Sabbath day (Exod 20:9-10); Amos implies that shops were closed during pagan new-moon religious festivals as well. • Merchants were cheating their customers by measuring grain with small ephahs and cheating their suppliers by using heavy shekels on the scales. This practice was forbidden by God’s law (Lev 19:35-36; Deut 25:13-16; see Prov 11:1; 16:11; 20:10, 23).
Literal English (Darby)ⓘThe Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.The Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.
that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; and that we may sell the refuse of the wheat.
Hebrew (Masoretic Text)ⓘThe Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.The Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.
King James VersionⓘKing James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
King James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?
American Standard VersionⓘAmerican Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.American Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.
that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes, and sell the refuse of the wheat?
World English BibleⓘWorld English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.World English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.
that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals, and sell the sweepings with the wheat?’”
Bible in Basic EnglishⓘBible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.Bible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.
Getting the poor for silver, and him who is in need for the price of two shoes, and taking a price for the waste parts of the grain.