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.

Hear now what the Lord says: Arise, contend and plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.

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.

Hear, O mountains, the Lord’s controversy, and you strong and enduring foundations of the earth, for the Lord has a controversy (a pleading contention) 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!

O My people, what have I done to you? And in what have I wearied you? Testify against 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.

For I brought you up out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house where you were bond servants, and 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.”

O My 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 and saving acts of the Lord.

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?

With what shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before God on high? 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?

Will 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?

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?

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and 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.

The voice of the Lord calls to the city —and it is sound wisdom to hear and fear Your name—Hear (heed) the rod and Him Who has appointed it.

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

Are there not still treasures gained by wickedness in the house of the wicked, and a scant measure that is abominable and accursed?

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

Can I be pure with wicked 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.

For rich men are full of violence; her inhabitants have spoken lies and their tongues are deceitful in their mouths.

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

Therefore I have also smitten you with a deadly wound and made you sick, laying you desolate, waste, and deserted 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.

You shall eat but not be satisfied, and your emptiness and hunger shall remain in you; you shall carry away but fail to save them, and those you do deliver I will give 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.

You shall sow but not reap; you shall tread olives but not anoint yourselves with oil, and the grapes but not 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.”

For the statutes of Omri you have kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and you walk in their counsels. Therefore I will make you a desolation and an astonishment and your inhabitants a hissing, and you shall bear the reproach and scorn of My people.