Micah 6
1 Now listen to what Yahweh says, “Arise and state your case before the mountains; let the hills hear your voice.
Hear now what the Lord is saying: Arise, present your complaint before the mountains, let the hills hear your voice!
2 Listen to Yahweh's lawsuit, you mountains, and you enduring foundations of the earth. For Yahweh has a lawsuit with his people, and he will fight in court against Israel.”
Hear, mountains, the Lord’s accusation, listen, foundations of the earth. For the Lord has a case against his people. He has a dispute with Israel.
3 “My people, what have I done to you? How have I wearied you? Testify against me!
“My people, what have I done to you. How have I displeased you? Answer me!
4 For I brought you up out of the land of Egypt and rescued you out of the house of bondage. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to you.
For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, from the land of slavery I redeemed you. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you.
5 My people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised, and how Balaam son of Beor answered him as you went from Shittim to Gilgal, so you may know the righteous acts of Yahweh.”
My people, what did Balak, king of Moab counsel? And how did Balaam, the son of Beor, answer him? Remember now the journey from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you might realize the just deeds of the Lord.”
6 What should I bring to Yahweh, as I bow down to the high God? Should I come to him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
With what should I come before the Lord? Bow myself before the God on high? Should I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves a year old?
7 Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousand rivers of oil? Should I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for my own sin?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, With ten thousand streams of oil? Should I give him my firstborn son for my guilt, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has told you, man, what is good, and what Yahweh requires from you: Act justly, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.
The Lord has told you what is good, what he demands of you: Only to do justice and love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
9 The voice of Yahweh is making a proclamation to the city— even now wisdom acknowledges your name: “Pay attention to the rod, and to the one who has put it in place.
Listen! The Lord calls to the city! Listen, tribe and assembly of the city!
10 There is wealth in the houses of the wicked that is dishonest, and false measures that are abominable.
“Can I forget the hoarded treasures in the houses of the wicked, and the accursed scant measure?
11 Should I consider a person to be innocent if he uses fraudulent scales, with a bag of deceptive weights?
Can I leave her unpunished because of evil scales, and the bag of false weights?
12 The rich men are full of violence, the inhabitants have spoken lies, and their tongue in their mouth is deceitful.
Whose rich people are full of violence, her inhabitants liars, whose tongues speak deceit?
13 Therefore I will strike you with a terrible blow, and I will make you desolate because of your sins.
“But I indeed, have begun to punish you, to lay you in ruins because of your sins.
14 You will eat but not be satisfied; your emptiness will remain inside you. You will store goods away but not save, and what you do save I will give to the sword.
You will eat but not be satisfied, your stomach empty within you. You will store up but lose everything, because whatever you save I will give to the sword.
15 You will sow but not reap; you will tread the olives but not anoint yourselves with oil; you will press grapes but drink no wine.
You will sow but not reap. You will tread the olives but have no oil for rubbing, tread grapes but drink no wine!
16 The regulations made by Omri have been kept, and all the deeds of the house of Ahab. You walk by their advice. So I will make you, city, a ruin, and you inhabitants an object of hissing, and you will bear the reproach of my people.”
“For you have followed the commands of Omri, and all the practices of the house of Ahab. You have acted in accord with their counsels, so I will give you up to ruin, the city’s inhabitants to derision. The nations will treat you with contempt!”
