Amos 5:12 (DRB)

Passage

Because I know your manifold crimes, and your grievous sins: enemies of the just, taking bribes, and oppressing the poor in the gate.

Nearby Context

Amos 5:10 They have hated him that rebuketh in the gate: and have abhorred him that speaketh perfectly.

Amos 5:11 Therefore because you robbed the poor, and took the choice prey from him: you shall build houses with square stone, and shall not dwell in them: you shall plant most delightful vineyards, and shall not drink the wine of them.

Amos 5:12 Because I know your manifold crimes, and your grievous sins: enemies of the just, taking bribes, and oppressing the poor in the gate.

Amos 5:13 Therefore the prudent shall keep silence at that time, for it is an evil time.

Amos 5:14 Seek ye good, and not evil, that you may live: and the Lord the God of hosts will be with you, as you have said.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "manifold", "crimes", "grievous", "sins", "enemies", "just", "taking", and "bribes". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "manifold" and "crimes", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "Therefore because you robbed the poor and..." into verse 13's "Therefore the prudent shall keep silence at...", so "manifold" and "crimes" belong inside that flow. In Amos context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "manifold" and "crimes" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.