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 voice.

²Listen to the Lord’s lawsuit, ^f

you mountains and enduring foundations of the earth, ^g

because the Lord has a case against His people, ^h

and He will argue it against Israel.

³My people, ⁱwhat have I done to you, ^j

or how have I wearied you? ^k

Testify against Me!

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

and redeemed you ^mfrom that place of slavery. ⁿ

I sent Moses, ^oAaron, and Miriam ^pahead of you.

⁵My people,

remember what Balak king of Moab ^qproposed,

what Balaam son of Beor answered him, ^r

and what happened from the Acacia Grove ^stto Gilgal ^u

so that you may acknowledge

the Lord’s righteous acts. ^v

⁶What should I bring before the Lord ^w

when I come to bow before God on high?

Should I come before Him with burnt offerings, ^x

with year-old calves?

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

or with ten thousand streams of oil?

Should I give my firstborn for my transgression, ^z

the child of my body for my own sin?

⁸Mankind, He has told you what is good ^a

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

to act justly, ^c

to love faithfulness, ^d

and to walk humbly with your God. ^e

Verdict of Judgment

⁹The voice of Yahweh calls out to the city ^f

(and it is wise to fear Your name):

“Pay attention to the rod

and the One who ordained it. ^g

¹⁰Are there still ^hthe treasures of wickedness ⁱ

and the accursed short measure ^j

in the house of the wicked?

¹¹Can I excuse wicked scales

or bags of deceptive weights? ^k

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

and its residents speak lies; ^m

the tongues in their mouths are deceitful. ⁿ

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

bringing desolation because of your sins. ^q

¹⁴You will eat but not be satisfied, ^r

for there will be hunger within you.

What you acquire, you cannot save, ^s

and what you do save,

I will give to the sword. ^t

¹⁵You will sow but not reap; ^u

you will press olives

but not anoint yourself with oil;

and you will tread grapes

but not drink the wine. ^v

¹⁶The statutes of Omri

and all the practices of Ahab’s house

have been observed;

you have followed their policies. ^w

Therefore, I will make you a desolate place ^x

and the city’s ^yresidents an object of contempt; ^za

you will bear the scorn of My people.” ^bc