7 There are those who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground.
7 Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,
7 O you who turn justice to wormwood
7 Woe to you who turn justice to vinegar and stomp righteousness into the mud.
7 You who turn justice to wormwood, And lay righteousness to rest in the earth!"
7 You twist justice, making it a bitter pill for the oppressed. You treat the righteous like dirt.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Amos 5:7
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.