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 is saying, “Arise, 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.

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

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

“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 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.”

“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 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 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 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?

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. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

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 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 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 treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and a short ephah that is accursed?

“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 be pure with dishonest scales, and with a bag of deceitful weights?

“Can I justify wicked scales And a bag of deceptive weights?

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

“For the rich men of the city are full of violence, Her residents speak lies, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

13 T herefore I also have struck you with a grievous wound. I have made 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. 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 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 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 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, 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.”

“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.”