Micah 6

1 Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.

Listen now to what the LORD says: "Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear what you have to say.

2 Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD’S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel.

Hear, you mountains, the LORD's controversy, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel.

3 O my people, what have I done to thee? and how have I wearied thee? testify against me.

My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me.

4 For I brought thee out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee from the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

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 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 ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.

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 the LORD."

6 How shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?

How shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?

7 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?

Will the LORD 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 hath shown thee, O man, what is good; and what the LORD doth require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does the LORD require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

9 The LORD’S voice crieth to the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.

The LORD's voice calls to the city, and wisdom sees your name: "Listen to the rod, and he who appointed it.

10 Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?

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

11 Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?

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

12 For her rich men are full of violence, and her inhabitants have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

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

13 Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.

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

14 Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.

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 Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.

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 ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and thy inhabitants an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.

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."