1 H ear now what the Lord says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, And let the hills hear your 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, O you mountains, the Lord ’s complaint, And you strong foundations of the earth; For the Lord has a complaint against His people, And He will contend 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 to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me.

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

4 F or I brought you up from the land of Egypt, I redeemed you from the house of bondage; And I sent before you 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 O My people, remember now What Balak king of Moab counseled, And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, From Acacia Grove to Gilgal, That you may know the righteousness of the Lord.”

“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 ith what shall I come before the Lord, And bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, With calves 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 the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand 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 has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? Punishment of Israel’s Injustice

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 T he Lord ’s voice cries to the city— Wisdom shall see Your name: “Hear the rod! Who has 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 the treasures of wickedness In the house of the wicked, And the short measure that is an abomination?

“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 count pure those with the wicked scales, 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, Her inhabitants have spoken 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 “ Therefore I will also make you sick by striking you, By making you desolate because of your sins.

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

14 Y ou shall eat, but not be satisfied; Hunger shall be in your midst. You may carry some away, but shall not save them; And what you do rescue I will give over 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 “ You shall sow, but not reap; You shall tread the olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil; And make sweet wine, but 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; All the works of Ahab’s house are done; And you walk in their counsels, That I may make you a desolation, And your inhabitants a hissing. Therefore you 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.”