Amos 5:8
Seek him that maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and that turneth darkness into morning, and that changeth day into night: that calleth the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name.
The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- facientem Arcturum et Orionem, et convertentem in mane tenebras, et diem in noctem mutantem ; qui vocat aquas maris, et effundit eas super faciem terræ ; Dominus nomen est ejus :
- Septuagint (Swete)
- ὁ ποιῶν πάντα καὶ μετασκευάζων, καὶ ἐκτρέπων εἰς τὸ πρωὶ σκιάν, καὶ ἡμέραν εἰς νύκτα συσκοτάζων· ὁ προσκαλούμενος τὸ ὕδωρ τῆς θαλάσσης καὶ ἐκχέων αὐτὸ ἐπὶ πρόσωπον τῆς γῆς, Κύριος ὄνομα αὐτῷ·
- Hebrew (WLC)
- עֹשֵׂ֨ה כִימָ֜ה וּכְסִ֗יל וְהֹפֵ֤ךְ לַבֹּ֨קֶר֙ צַלְמָ֔וֶת וְי֖וֹם לַ֣יְלָה הֶחְשִׁ֑יךְ הַקּוֹרֵ֣א לְמֵֽי הַיָּ֗ם וַֽיִּשְׁפְּכֵ֛ם עַל פְּנֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ יְהוָ֥ה שְׁמֽוֹ
Haydock's commentary
Arcturus and Orion. Arcturus is a bright star in the north, Orion a beautiful constellation in the south. (Challoner)
Shepherds in Arabia and Spain are well acquainted with the stars. (Calmet)
We have examined the meaning of cima and cesil, Job ix. 9., and xxxviii. 31. St. Jerome's master asserts that the latter means "efflugence." Cima is rendered the Pleiades by Aquila and Theodotion; "the seven stars," by Protestants. (Haydock)
When such allusions to the heathen mythology occur, they give no sanction to it, but serve to explain what is meant. (St. Jerome)
Morning, affording comfort, chap. iv. 13.
Earth, by floods (Calmet) or rain. (St. Jerome)
From Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859, in the transcription made by Todd Easton and kept online by John Paul Wohlschied at johnblood.gitlab.io/haydock.
The Fathers on this verse
St John Chrysostom The Homilies on the Statues to the People of Antioch, Homily XI
1. When I think of the past tempest, and of the present calm, I cease not saying, “Blessed be God, who maketh all things, and changeth them; who hath brought light out of darkness; who leadeth to the gates of hell, and bringeth back; who chastiseth, but killeth not.” And this I desire you too to repeat constantly, and never to desist. For if He hath benefitted us by deeds, what pardon shall we deserve, if we do not requite Him even by words. Therefore, I exhort that we never cease to give Him thanks; since if we are grateful for the former benefits, it is plain that we shall enjoy others also, which are greater. …
St John Chrysostom The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, 1 Timothy 5:11-15
Would you again have another ground for cheerfulness? Go to the public buildings, in which you share equally with others. For the most magnificent private houses, after all, are less splendid than the public edifices. There you may remain, as long as you please. They belong to you as much as to others, since they are common to you with others; they are common, and not private. But those, you say, delight you not. They delight you not, partly because you are familiar with them, and partly from your covetousness. …
St Gregory Nazianzen Panegyric on His Brother S. Cæsarius
24. Yea, would that what we hope for might be, according to the great kindness of our bountiful God, Who asks for little and bestows great things, both in the present and in the future, upon those who truly love Him; bearing all things, enduring all things for their love and hope of Him, giving thanks for all things favourable and unfavourable alike: I mean pleasant and painful, for reason knows that even these are often instruments of salvation; commending to Him our own souls and the souls of those fellow wayfarers who, being more ready, have gained their rest before us. …
St Gregory Nazianzen The Last Farewell in the Presence of the One Hundred and Fifty Bishops
5. But since God, Who maketh poor and maketh rich, Who killeth and maketh alive; Who maketh and transformeth all things; Who turneth night into day, winter into spring, storm into calm, drought into abundance of rain; and often for the sake of the prayers of one righteous man sorely persecuted; Who lifteth up the meek on high, and bringeth the ungodly down to the ground; since God said to Himself, I have surely seen the affliction of Israel; and they shall no longer be further vexed with clay and brick-making; and when He spake He visited, and in His visitation He saved, and led forth His people with a mighty hand and outstretched arm, by the hand of Moses and Aaron, His chosen, what is the result, and what wonders have been wrought? Those which books and monuments contain. …