The Lord’s Case Against His People

1 Listen to what the Lord says: “Get up and present your case to the mountains. Let the hills hear your voice.” 2 Mountains, hear the Lord’s case, and you roots of the earth’s foundations! For the Lord has a case against His people. He is bringing a charge against Israel’s house.

3 “My people, what good did I promise you that I have not done? What harsh burden have I increased against you? Testify before Me.

4 “I brought you up from Egypt’s land and redeemed you from the house of slavery. I sent three prophets ahead of you, Moses⁠a to teach the tradition of judgments, Aaron to make atonement for the people, and Miriam to teach the women. 5 “My people, remember what Balak king of Moab planned, and what Balaam son of Beor answered him. Weren’t mighty deeds done for you from the valley of Shittim to Gilgal’s house, so that you would know the Lord’s righteous deeds?”

What the Lord Requires

6 With what should I⁠b worship before the Lord, and bow before God whose Shekinah is in the highest heavens? Should I worship before Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? 7 Will the Lord accept thousands of rams, tens of thousands of streams of oil? Should I give my firstborn for my offenses, the beloved child of my body for my own sins?

8 You have been told, human being, what is good. What does the Lord ask of you? Only to do true justice, to love acts of kindness, and to be modest as you live in reverence for your God.

Dishonest Measures and Their Punishment

9 The Lord’s⁠c prophets cry out to the city, and its teachers revere Your name. Listen, king and ruler, and all the rest of the people of the land!

10 Are there still treasuries of wickedness in the wicked person’s house, and dishonest measures that bring a curse? 11 Can they be acquitted with dishonest scales, and a bag containing weights both larger and smaller than they should be?

12 Her rich people fill their stores through violence, and her inhabitants speak lies. The tongues in their mouths speak deceitfully.

13 I too have brought sickness and plague upon you, and have left you desolate because you sinned.

14 You will eat without being satisfied, and sickness will fill your insides. You will acquire things but not save them. What you do save I will hand over to be destroyed by the sword.

15 You will sow but not reap, press olives but not rub yourself with oil, and press grapes but not drink wine.

16 You kept the decrees of Omri’s house and carried out the practices of Ahab’s house. You followed their rules, which will bring you to ruin and leave her inhabitants devastated. You will receive My people’s disgrace.