1 H ear ye now what Jehovah saith: Arise, contend before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.

Hear now what the Lord is saying, “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, And let the hills hear your voice.

2 H ear, ye mountains, Jehovah's controversy, and ye, unchanging foundations of the earth; for Jehovah hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.

“Listen, you mountains, to the indictment of the Lord, And you enduring foundations of the earth, Because the Lord has a case against His people; Even with Israel He will dispute.

3 O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.

“ My people, what have I done to you, And how have I wearied you? Answer Me.

4 F or I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of bondage; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

“Indeed, I brought you up from the land of Egypt And ransomed you from the house of slavery, And I sent before you Moses, Aaron and Miriam.

5 M y people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, from Shittim unto Gilgal, that ye may know the righteousness of Jehovah.

“My people, remember now What Balak king of Moab counseled And what Balaam son of Beor answered him, And from Shittim to Gilgal, So that you might know the righteous acts of the Lord.” What God Requires of Man

6 W herewith shall I come before Jehovah, bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves of a year old?

With what shall I come to the Lord And bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, With yearling calves?

7 W ill Jehovah take pleasure in thousands of rams, in ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8 H e hath shewn thee, O man, what is good: and what doth Jehovah require of thee, but to do justly, and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with thy God?

He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

9 J ehovah's voice crieth unto the city, and wisdom looketh on thy name. Hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.

The voice of the Lord will call to the city— And it is sound wisdom to fear Your name: “Hear, O tribe. Who has appointed its time?

10 A re there yet treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure abominable?

“Is there yet a man in the wicked house, Along with treasures of wickedness And a short measure that is cursed?

11 S hall I be pure with the unjust balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?

“Can I justify wicked scales And a bag of deceptive weights?

12 F or her rich men are full of violence, and her inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

“For the rich men of the city are full of violence, Her residents speak lies, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

13 T herefore also will I make sick in smiting thee; I will make desolate because of thy sins.

“So also I will make you sick, striking you down, Desolating you because of your sins.

14 T hou shalt eat, and not be satisfied, and thine emptiness in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take away, and not save; and what thou savest will I give up to the sword.

“You will eat, but you will not be satisfied, And your vileness will be in your midst. You will try to remove for safekeeping, But you will not preserve anything, And what you do preserve I will give to the sword.

15 T hou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and new wine, but shalt not drink wine.

“You will sow but you will not reap. You will tread the olive but will not anoint yourself with oil; And the grapes, but you will not drink wine.

16 F or the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab; and ye walk in their counsels: that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof a hissing; and ye shall bear the reproach of my people.

“The statutes of Omri And all the works of the house of Ahab are observed; And in their devices you walk. Therefore I will give you up for destruction And your inhabitants for derision, And you will bear the reproach of My people.”