Micah 6

GOD’S LAWSUIT AGAINST JUDAH

6Now listen to what the Lord is saying:

Rise, plead your case before the mountains,

and let the hills hear your complaint.^C

²Listen to the Lord’s lawsuit,^am

you mountains and enduring foundations of the earth,^a

because the Lord has a case against his people,^b

and he will argue it against Israel.

³My people,^c what have I done to you,^d

or how have I wearied you?^e

Testify against me!

⁴Indeed, I brought you up^f from the land of Egypt

and redeemed you^g from that place of slavery.^h

I sent Moses,ⁱ Aaron, and Miriam^j ahead of you.

⁵My people,

remember what King Balak of Moab^k proposed,

what Balaam son of Beor answered him,^l

and what happened from the Acacia Grove^Am to Gilgalⁿ

so that you may acknowledge

the Lord’s righteous acts.^o

⁶What should I bring before the Lord^p

when I come to bow before God on high?

Should I come before him with burnt offerings,^q

with year-old calves?

⁷Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams^r

or with ten thousand streams of oil?

Should I give my firstborn for my transgression,^s

the offspring of my body for my own sin?

⁸Mankind, he has told each of you what is good^t

and what it is the Lord requires of you:^u

to act justly,^v

to love faithfulness,^w

and to walk humbly with your God.^x

VERDICT OF JUDGMENT

⁹The voice of the Lord calls out to the city^B

(and it is wise to fear your name):

“Pay attention to the rod

and the one who ordained it.^C

¹⁰Are there still^D the treasures of wickedness^y

and the accursed short measure^z

in the house of the wicked?

¹¹Can I excuse wicked scales

or bags of deceptive weights?^aa

¹²For the wealthy of the city are full of violence,^ab

and its residents speak lies;^ac

the tongues in their mouths are deceitful.^ad

¹³“As a result, I have begun to strike you severely,^Eae

bringing desolation because of your sins.^af

¹⁴You will eat but not be satisfied,^ag

for there will be hunger within you.

What you acquire, you cannot save,^ah

and what you do save,

I will give to the sword.^D

¹⁵You will sow but not reap;^ai

you will press olives

but not anoint yourself with oil;

and you will tread grapes

but not drink the wine.^aj

¹⁶The statutes of Omri

and all the practices of Ahab’s house

have been observed;

you have followed their policies.^ak

Therefore, I will make you a desolate place^al

and the city’s^F residents an object of contempt;^Gam

you will bear the scorn of my people.”^Aan