Amos Still Speaks

 because you tread down the poor and take taxes from him, though you have built houses of hewn stone, yet do not live in them. Amos 5:11

The judgement on Israel was based on their civic and religious conduct. God was not pleased with how they conducted themselves. He was especially harsh in judging the wealthy among them.

The rich impoverish the poor through taxation. Sales tax, income tax, and other things that hurt the poor more than the rich. They pant after the dust on the poor man's head one prophet said.

You tread down the poor. You oppress them and abuse them and take advantage of them. You drive up prices so that the poor cannot eat or buy clothing. You drive up rents so that the poor have no where to sleep. And you blame the poor for being poor but do nothing to help them climb up out of poverty.

You make rents too high, while you build nice houses where no one lives. The rich own home they do not live in while the poor struggle to live anywhere.

"Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, for it is an evil time." Amos 5:13

Beware a pastor who criticizes the poor for being poor, and one who honors the rich for being wealthy.