Amos 5:4-6

Contemporary English Version

⁴The Lord keeps saying,
“Israel, turn back to me
    and you will live!
⁵Don't go to Gilgal or Bethel
    or even to Beersheba.^[a]
Gilgal will be dragged away,
and Bethel will end up
    as nothing.”^[b]

⁶Turn back to the Lord,
you descendants of Joseph,^[c]
    and you will live.
If you don't, the Lord
    will attack like fire.
Bethel will burn to the ground,
    and no one can save it.

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Footnotes

5.5 Gilgal … Bethel … Beersheba: These were ancient places of worship, but the Lord had warned his people to stay away from them.
5.5 Gilgal … nothing: In Hebrew “Gilgal” and “dragged away” sound something alike. Bethel (meaning “house of God”) is sometimes called “house of nothing” or “house of sin” by the prophets (see Hosea 4.15; 5.8; 10.5-8).
5.6 descendants of Joseph: Another name for the people of the northern kingdom of Israel.