Amos 5:13 Meaning and Explanation
“Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The times are so corrupt that the wise keep silent, for speaking truth brings only danger.
What Does Amos 5:13 Mean?
The corruption has grown so deep that the prudent fall silent. When justice is perverted and truth-tellers are hated, the wise see that speaking openly may bring only harm, and so they hold their peace in an evil time.
This is a melancholy observation about a society in moral decay, where honest speech has become dangerous and silence the safer course. It is not approval of cowardice but a lament for a time when truth cannot be safely spoken. Yet the prophet himself does not stay silent, for God has compelled him. The verse describes the cost of corruption to a whole community, and quietly honors those who, like Amos, speak anyway when God requires it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amos 5:13
What does Amos 5:13 mean?
The times are so corrupt that the wise keep silent, for speaking truth brings only danger.