They Sell the Righteous for Silver, the Needy for a Pair of Sandals

Amos delivers God's accusations against Israel's ruling class with brutal precision: 'They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name. They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge.' The wealthy women of Samaria he calls 'cows of Bashan — you who oppress the poor and crush the needy.' Israel is prosperous and religious and doomed.