6
1 Listen
now to what
the LORD says:
“Arise, plead
your case before
the mountains,
and let the
hills hear what
you have to
say.
2 Hear,
you mountains, the
LORD’s indictment,
and you enduring
foundations of
the earth;
for the LORD
has a case
against his people,
and he will
contend with
Israel.
3 My
people, what have
I done to
you?
How have
I burdened you?
Answer me!
4 For
I brought you
up out of
the land of
Egypt,
and redeemed you
out of the
house of bondage.
I sent before
you Moses, Aaron,
and Miriam.
5 My
people, remember
now what Balak
king of Moab
devised,
and what Balaam
the son of
Beor answered him
from Shittim to
Gilgal,
that you may
know the righteous
acts of the
LORD.”
6 How
shall I come
before the LORD,
and bow myself
before the exalted
God?
Shall I come
before him with
burnt offerings,
with calves a
year old?
7 Will
the LORD be
pleased with
thousands of rams?
With tens of
thousands of
rivers of oil?
Shall I give
my firstborn for
my disobedience?
The fruit of
my body for
the sin of
my soul?
8 He
has shown you,
O man, what
is good.
What does the
LORD require of
you, but to
act justly,
to love mercy,
and to walk
humbly with your
God?
9 The
LORD’s voice calls
to the city—
and wisdom fears
your name—
“Listen to the
rod,
and he who
appointed it.
10 Are there
yet treasures of
wickedness in the
house of the
wicked,
and a
short ephah
that is accursed?
11 Shall
I tolerate dishonest
scales,
and a bag
of deceitful weights?
12 Her
rich men are
full of violence,
her inhabitants
speak lies,
and their tongue
is deceitful in
their speech.
13 Therefore
I also have
struck you with
a grievous wound.
I have made
you desolate
because of your
sins.
14 You
shall eat, but not
be satisfied.
Your hunger will
be within you.
You will store up,
but not save,
and that which
you save I will
give up to
the sword.
15 You
will sow, but won’t
reap.
You will tread
the olives,
but won’t anoint yourself
with oil;
and crush grapes,
but won’t drink
the wine.
16 For
the statutes of
Omri are kept,
and all the
works of Ahab’s
house.
You walk in
their counsels,
that I may
make you a ruin,
and your
inhabitants a
hissing.
You will bear
the reproach of
my people.”