< Micah 6 >
1 Listen now to what YHWH says: "Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear what you have to say.
2 Hear, you mountains, YHWH's controversy, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for YHWH has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel.
3 My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me.
4 For 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 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 acts of YHWH."
6 How shall I come before YHWH, and bow myself before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
7 Will YHWH 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 He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does YHWH require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
9 YHWH's voice calls to the city, and wisdom sees your name: "Listen to the rod, and he who appointed it.
10 Are there yet treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and a short ephah that is accursed?
11 Shall I be pure with dishonest scales, and with a bag of deceitful weights?
12 Her rich men are full of violence, her inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their speech.
13 Therefore I also have struck you with a grievous wound. I have made you desolate because of your sins.
14 You shall eat, but not be satisfied. Your humiliation will be in your midst. You will store up, but not save; and that which you save I will give up to the sword.
15 You 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 For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab; and you walk in their counsels. Therefore I will make you a desolation, and her inhabitants an object of contempt; and you will bear the scorn of the nations."
