1 L isten now to what Yahweh says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear what you have to say.

2 H ear, you mountains, Yahweh’s controversy, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for Yahweh has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel.

3 M y people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me!

4 F or 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 M y 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 Yahweh.”

6 H ow shall I come before Yahweh, and bow myself before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?

7 W ill Yahweh 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 H e has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

9 Y ahweh’s voice calls to the city, and wisdom sees your name: “Listen to the rod, and he who appointed it.

10 A re there yet treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and a short ephah that is accursed?

11 S hall I be pure with dishonest scales, and with a bag of deceitful weights?

12 H er rich men are full of violence, her inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their speech.

13 T herefore I also have struck you with a grievous wound. I have made you desolate because of your sins.

14 Y ou shall eat, but not be satisfied. Your humiliation will be within you. You will store up, but not save; and that which you save I will give up to the sword.

15 Y ou 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 F or 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 her inhabitants a hissing; And you will bear the reproach of my people.”