Micah 6

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

Now listen to what Yahweh says, “Arise and state your case before the mountains; let the hills hear your voice.

2 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.

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.”

3 My 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 wearied you? Testify against 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.

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.

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 the LORD."

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.”

6 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?

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?

7 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?

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?

8 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?

He has told you, man, what is good, and what Yahweh requires from you: Act justly, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.

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

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.

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

There is wealth in the houses of the wicked that is dishonest, and false measures that are abominable.

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

Should I consider a person to be innocent if he uses fraudulent scales, with a bag of deceptive weights?

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

The rich men are full of violence, the inhabitants have spoken lies, and their tongue in their mouth is deceitful.

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

Therefore I will strike you with a terrible blow, and I will make 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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.”