1 H ear now what the Lord says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, And let the hills hear your 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, 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 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 to you? And how have I wearied you? 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 you up from the land of Egypt, I redeemed you from the house of bondage; And I sent before you 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 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 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 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?

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, Ten thousand 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 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

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 cries to the city— Wisdom shall see Your name: “Hear the rod! Who has 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 short measure that is an abomination?

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 pure those with the wicked scales, 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 her rich men are full of violence, Her inhabitants 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 “ Therefore I will also make you sick by striking you, By making you desolate because of your sins.

So I have begun to punish you, to destroy 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 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 “ 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 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; 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.”

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.”