Micah 6:1–8

The Lord Brings Charges Against Israel

6Israel, listen to the Lord’s message. He says to me,

“Stand up in court.

Let the mountains serve as witnesses.

Let the hills hear what you have to say.”

²Hear the Lord’s case, you mountains.

Listen, you age-old foundations of the earth.

The Lord has a case against his people Israel.

He is bringing charges against them.

³The Lord says,

“My people, what have I done to you?

Have I made things too hard for you? Answer me.

⁴I brought your people up out of Egypt.

I set them free from the land

where they were slaves.

I sent Moses to lead them.

Aaron and Miriam helped him.

⁵Remember how Balak, the king of Moab,

planned to put a curse on your people.

But Balaam, the son of Beor,

gave them a blessing instead.

Remember their journey from Shittim to Gilgal.

I want you to know

that I always do what is right.”

⁶The people of Israel say,

“What should we bring with us

when we go to worship the Lord?

What should we offer the God of heaven

when we bow down to him?

Should we take burnt offerings to him?

Should we sacrifice calves

that are a year old?

⁷Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams?

Will he take delight in 10,000 rivers of olive oil?

Should we offer our oldest sons

for the wrong things we’ve done?

Should we sacrifice our own children

to pay for our sins?”

⁸The Lord has shown you what is good.

He has told you what he requires of you.

You must treat people fairly.

You must love others faithfully.

And you must be very careful to live

the way your God wants you to.