Amos 5 · Verse 13

Amos 5:13

Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.
Amos 5:13, King James Version

Amos 5:13 in other translations

BSBTherefore, the prudent keep silent in such times, for the days are evil.
WEBTherefore a prudent person keeps silent in such a time, for it is an evil time.
ASVTherefore he that is prudent shall keep silence in such a time; for it is an evil time.
YLTTherefore is the wise at that time silent, For an evil time it is.
DARBYTherefore the prudent shall keep silence in this time; for it is an evil time.
BBESo the wise will say nothing in that time; for it is an evil time.
WebsterTherefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

What does Amos 5:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. the prudent--the spiritually wise. shall keep silence--not mere silence of tongue, but the prudent shall keep himself quiet from taking part in any public or private affairs which he can avoid: as it is "an evil time," and one in which all law is set at naught. Ep 5:16 refers to this. Instead of impatiently agitating against irremediable evils, the godly wise will not cast pearls before swine, who would trample these, and rend the offerers (Mt 7:6), but will patiently wait for God's time of deliverance in silent submission (Psa 39:9).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 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…

Read the full comment on Amos 5:7-17 →

Amos 5:13 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

לָכֵ֗ןla.Khen<to> thereforeH3651
הַמַּשְׂכִּ֛ילha.mas.Kilthe prudent [person]H7919
בָּעֵ֥תba.'Etat the timeH6256
הַהִ֖יאha.Hi'<the> thatH1931
יִדֹּ֑םyi.Domhe will be silentH1826
כִּ֛יkiforH3588
עֵ֥ת'et[is] a timeH6256
רָעָ֖הra.'AhevilH7451
הִֽיא\׃Hi'itH1931

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Amos 5:13

  • 2 Timothy 3:1

    This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

  • Hosea 4:4

    Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.

  • Ephesians 5:15-16

    See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

  • Micah 2:3

    Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:7

    A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

  • Amos 6:10

    And a man’s uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the Lord.

  • Micah 7:5-7

    Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house. Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

  • Habakkuk 3:16

    When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.

  • Isaiah 37:3

    And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.

  • Isaiah 36:21

    But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

  • Matthew 27:12-14

    And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

  • Zephaniah 2:2-3

    Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord’s anger come upon you. Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the prudent.
6:10; Ec 3:7; Isa 36:21; Ho 4:4; Mic 7:5-7; Mt 27:12-14
an evil.
Ec 9:12; Isa 37:3; Mic 2:3; Hab 3:16; Zep 2:2,3; Eph 5:15,16; 6:13
2Ti 3:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Amos 5:12

    For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.

  • Amos 5:13

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

  • Amos 5:14

    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.

Read all of Amos 5

Amos 5:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Por tanto, el prudente en tal tiempo calla, porque el tiempo es malo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
C’est pourquoi, en ce temps-ci, le sage gardera le silence, car c’est un temps mauvais.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Darum schweigt der Einsichtige in dieser Zeit, denn es ist eine böse Zeit.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Ideo prudens in tempore illo tacebit, quia tempus malum est.