Amos 5:13

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

Therefore, the prudent man, at that time, will be dumb, - Because an evil time, it is!

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
At that time wise teachers will be quiet, because it is a bad time.

New American Standard Bible
Therefore at such a time the prudent person keeps quiet, because it is an evil time.

New Century Version
In such times the wise person will keep quiet, because it is a bad time.

New English Translation
For this reason whoever is smart keeps quiet in such a time, for it is an evil time.

Update Bible Version
Therefore he that is prudent shall keep silent in such a time; for it is an evil time.

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it [is] an evil time.

Amplified Bible
Therefore, he who is prudent and has insight will keep silent at such a [corrupt and evil] time, for it is an evil time [when people will not listen to truth and will disregard those of good character].

English Standard Version
Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time, for it is an evil time.

World English Bible
Therefore he who is prudent shall keep silence in such a time; For it is an evil time.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor a prudent man schal be stille in that time, for the time is yuel.

English Revised Version
Therefore he that is prudent shall keep silence in such a time; for it is an evil time.

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore, the prudent keep silent in such times, for the days are evil.

Contemporary English Version
Times are so evil that anyone with good sense will keep quiet.

American Standard Version
Therefore he that is prudent shall keep silence in such a time; for it is an evil time.

Bible in Basic English
So the wise will say nothing in that time; for it is an evil time.

Complete Jewish Bible
At times like these a prudent person stays silent, for it is an evil time.

Darby Translation
Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in this time; for it is an evil time.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Therefore the prudent doth keep silence in such a time; for it is an evil time.

King James Version (1611)
Therefore the prudent shall keepe silence in that time, for it is an euill time.

New Living Translation
So those who are smart keep their mouths shut, for it is an evil time.

New Life Bible
The wise man keeps quiet at such a time, for it is a sinful time.

New Revised Standard
Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time; for it is an evil time.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Therefore the prudent shal keepe silence in that time, for it is an euill time.

George Lamsa Translation
Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore the prudent shall keep silence at that time, for it is an evil time.

Revised Standard Version
Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time; for it is an evil time.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Therfore the wise shall kepe scilence in that time: for it is an euyll time.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Therefore the prudent shall be silent at that time; for it is a time of evils.

Good News Translation
And so, keeping quiet in such evil times is the smart thing to do!

Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore, those who have insight will keep silentat such a time,for the days are evil.

Hebrew Names Version
Therefore he who is prudent shall keep silence in such a time; For it is an evil time.

King James Version
Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

Lexham English Bible
Therefore, whoever has insight will keep silent in that time, for it is a time of evil.

Literal Translation
So the understanding ones shall keep silent in that time, for it is an evil time.

Young's Literal Translation
Therefore is the wise at that time silent, For an evil time it [is].

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Therfore the wyse must now be fayne to holde his tuge, so wicked a tyme is it.

THE MESSAGE
Justice is a lost cause. Evil is epidemic. Decent people throw up their hands. Protest and rebuke are useless, a waste of breath.

New King James Version
Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, For it is an evil time.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Therefore at such a time the prudent person keeps silent, for it is an evil time.

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore at such a time the one with insight keeps silent, for it is an evil time.

Contextual Overview

⁴ For, thus, saith Yahweh, to the house of Israel, - Seek me, and live; ⁵ Then do not seek Bethel, and, Gilgal, shall ye not enter, and, unto Beer-sheba, shall ye not cross over, For, Gilgal, shall, surely go into exile, and, Bethel, shall become a trouble. ⁶ Seek ye Yahweh, and live, - lest he break forth, like a fire, upon the house of Joseph, and it devour with none to quench it, for Bethel. ⁷ Ye who turn, into, wormwood, justice, and, righteousness - to the ground have let fall. ⁸ Seek him who made the Cluster and the Giant, and turneth, into morning, the shadow of death, and who, day into night, doth darken, Him who calleth to the waters of the sea, and poureth them out on the face of the land, Yahweh, is his name: ⁹ Him who flasheth force on the strong, - and, force, on the fortress, alighteth! ¹⁰ They hate the man who, in the gate, rebuketh, - and, him who speaketh truthfully, they abhor. ¹¹ Therefore - because ye have trampled on the poor, and, the gift of corn, ye would take away from him, though, houses of hewn stone, ye have built, Yet shall ye not dwell in them, - Though, delightful vineyards, ye have planted, Yet shall ye not drink the wine of them. ¹² For I know how numerous are your transgressions, and how surpassing your sins, - ye adversaries of the righteous! ye acceptors of a bribe! Even the needy in the gate, have they turned away! ¹³ Therefore, the prudent man, at that time, will be dumb, - Because an evil time, it is!

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the prudent: Amos 6:10, Ecclesiastes 3:7, Isaiah 36:21, Hosea 4:4, Micah 7:5-7, Matthew 27:12-14

an evil: Ecclesiastes 9:12, Isaiah 37:3, Micah 2:3, Habakkuk 3:16, Zephaniah 2:2, Zephaniah 2:3, Ephesians 5:15, Ephesians 5:16, Ephesians 6:13, 2 Timothy 3:1

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 18:36 - held their peace Nehemiah 2:12 - neither Job 13:5 - and it Job 21:5 - lay your Job 32:16 - General Psalms 37:19 - in the evil Psalms 38:14 - that heareth Psalms 39:1 - while Psalms 49:5 - days Proverbs 14:15 - the prudent Proverbs 29:11 - General Lamentations 2:10 - and keep Micah 1:10 - Declare Zechariah 1:4 - Turn John 7:10 - not John 8:6 - as though

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Therefore the prudent shall keep silence at that time,.... Not the prophets of the Lord, whose business it was at all times to reprove, and not hold their peace, let the consequence be what it would; though the Targum calls them teachers; but private persons, whose wisdom it would be to say nothing; since reproof would do no good to these persons, and they would bring a great deal of hatred ill will, and trouble upon themselves as well as would hear the name of God blasphemed, which would be very afflictive to them: or the sense is, they would not speak to God on the behalf of these wicked men, knowing the decree was gone forth; nor say one murmuring word at it, believing it was in righteousness; and being struck also with the awfulness of God's righteous judgments:

for it [is] an evil time; in which sin abounded, and miseries and calamities on account of it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time - The “time” may be either the time of the obduracy of the wicked, or that of the common punishment. For a time may be called “evil,” whether evil is done, or is suffered in it, as Jacob says, “Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been” Genesis 47:9. Of the first, he would perhaps say, that the oppressed poor would, if wise, be silent, not complaining or accusing, for, injustice having the mastery, complaint would only bring on them fresh sufferings. And again also he may mean that, on account of the incorrigibleness of the people, the wise and the prophets would be silent, because the more the people were rebuked, the more impatient and worse they became. So our Lord was silent before His judges, as had been foretold of Him, for since they would not hear, His speaking would only increase their condemnation. “If I tell you, ye will not believe; and if I also ask you, ye will not answer Me, nor let Me go” Luke 22:67-68. So God said by Solomon: “He that reproveth a scorner getteth himself shame, and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot” Proverbs 9:7. And our Lord bids, “Give not that which is holy unto dogs, and cast not your pearls before swine” Matthew 7:6. They hated and rejected those who rebuked them. Matthew 7:10. Since then rebuke profited not, the prophets should hold their peace. It is a fearful judgment, when God withholds His warnings. In times of punishment also the prudent keep silence. Intense affliction is “dumb and openeth not its month,” owning the hand of God. It may be too, that Amos, like Hosea Hosea 4:4, Hosea 4:17, expresses the uselessness of all reproof, in regard to the most of those whom be called to repentance, even while he continued earnestly to rebuke them.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 13. The prudent shall keep silence — A wise man will consider that it is useless to complain. He can have no justice without bribes; and he has no money to give: consequently, in such an evil time, it is best to keep silence.