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.

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, 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 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 M y people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer 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 out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage. 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 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 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 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?

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

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

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

Can I make a man not guilty who lies and has false weights in his bag?

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

The rich men of the city have hurt many people. Her people are liars. Their tongues in their mouths speak false words.

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

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.”