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

Listen to what the Lord says: “Stand up and make your cause known in front of the mountains. Let the hills hear your voice.

2 H ear ye, O mountains, the Lord 's controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the Lord hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.

Listen to the Lord’s cause, you mountains and bases of the earth that last forever. The Lord has something against His people, and will speak against Israel.

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? How have I made it hard for you? Answer Me.

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

I brought you out of the land of Egypt. I took you out of the land where you were servants. And I sent Moses, Aaron and Miriam to lead you.

5 O my 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 the Lord.

My people, remember what Balak king of Moab said, and what Balaam son of Beor answered him. Remember what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may know the good things the Lord has done.” What the Lord Wants

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

What should I bring to the Lord when I bow down before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt gifts, with calves a year old?

7 W ill the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with 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?

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with 10, 000 rivers of oil? Should I give my first-born to pay for not obeying? Should I give the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8 H e hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

O man, He has told you what is good. What does the Lord ask of you but to do what is fair and to love kindness, and to walk without pride with your God? Israel Is Punished

9 T he Lord 's voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.

The voice of the Lord is calling to the city, and it is wise to fear Your name: “Listen, O family of Judah, you who are gathered in the city.

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

O sinful house, can I forget the riches you got by wrong-doing? You lied about the weight of things, which I hate.

11 S hall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?

Can I make a man not guilty who lies and has false weights in his bag?

12 F or the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

The rich men of the city have hurt many people. Her people are liars. Their tongues in their mouths speak false words.

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

So I have begun to punish you, to destroy you because of your sins.

14 T hou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.

You will eat, but you will not be filled. Your stomachs will still be empty. You will store up, but save nothing. And what you save 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 sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.

You will plant, but you will not gather. You will crush the olive, but you will not pour oil on yourself. You will crush 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 an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.

You have kept the laws of Omri and all the works of the people of Ahab. You have followed their ways. So I will give you up to be destroyed, and your people will be made fun of. You, My people, will be put to shame.”