14 Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.
14 Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.
14 Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said.
14 Seek good and not evil - and live! You talk about God, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies, being your best friend. Well, live like it, and maybe it will happen.
14 Seek good and not evil, That you may live; So the Lord God of hosts will be with you, As you have spoken.
14 Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the Lord God of Heaven's Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Amos 5:14
Commentary on Amos 5:7-17
(Read Amos 5:7-17)
The same almighty power can, for repenting sinners, easily turn affliction and sorrow into prosperity and joy, and as easily turn the prosperity of daring sinners into utter darkness. Evil times will not bear plain dealing; that is, evil men will not. And these men were evil men indeed, when wise and good men thought it in vain even to speak to them. Those who will seek and love that which is good, may help to save the land from ruin. It behoves us to plead God's spiritual promises, to beseech him to create in us a clean heart, and to renew a right spirit within us. The Lord is ever ready to be gracious to the souls that seek him; and then piety and every duty will be attended to. But as for sinful Israel, God's judgments had often passed by them, now they shall pass through them.