6 And I said, What is it? [What does it symbolize?] And he said, This that goes forth is an ephah[-sized vessel for separate grains all collected together]. This, he continued, is the symbol of the sinners mentioned above and is the resemblance of their iniquity throughout the whole land. [Amos 8:5.]
You businessmen say,\par “When will the New Moon {\cf2\super [101]} be over\par so we can sell grain?\par When will the Sabbath be over\par so we can bring our wheat \{to sell\}?\par We can raise the price\par and make the measure smaller. {\cf2\super [102]} \par We can adjust the scales\par and cheat the people. {\cf2\super [103]} \par
Your baskets should be the right size. Your jars should hold the right amount of liquids. Your weights and balances should weigh things correctly. I am the Lord your God! I brought you out from the land of Egypt!
\{The poor people can’t pay their loans,\}\par so we will buy them as slaves.\par We will buy those helpless people\par for the price of a pair of shoes.\par Oh, and we can sell the wheat\par that was spilled on the floor.”\par
Do the bad people still hide treasures\par that they have stolen?\par Do bad people still cheat people\par with baskets that are too small? {\cf2\super [76]} \par \{Yes! All of those things are still happening!\}\par
At that time, I will punish all the people that jump over the threshold. {\cf2\super [6]} I will punish the people that fill their master’s house {\cf2\super [7]} with lies and violence.”