The Lord’s Case Against Israel

6 Listen to what the Lord says:

“Stand up, plead my case before the mountains;m

let the hills hear what you have to say.

2 “Hear,n you mountains, the Lord’s accusation;o

listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.

For the Lord has a casep against his people;

he is lodging a chargeq against Israel.

3 “My people, what have I done to you?

How have I burdenedr you?s Answer me.

4 I brought you up out of Egyptt

and redeemed you from the land of slavery.u

I sent Mosesv to lead you,

also Aaronw and Miriam.x

5 My people, remember

what Balaky king of Moab plotted

and what Balaam son of Beor answered.

Remember your journey from Shittimz to Gilgal,a

that you may know the righteous actsb of the Lord.”

6 With what shall I come beforec the Lord

and bow down before the exalted God?

Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,

with calves a year old?d

7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,e

with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?f

Shall I offer my firstborng for my transgression,

the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?h

8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justlyi and to love mercy

and to walk humblya j with your God.k

Israel’s Guilt and Punishment

9 Listen! The Lord is calling to the city—

and to fear your name is wisdom—

“Heed the rodl and the One who appointed it.b

10 Am I still to forget your ill-gotten treasures, you wicked house,

and the short ephah,c which is accursed?m

11 Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales,n

with a bag of false weights?o

12 Your rich people are violent;p

your inhabitants are liarsq

and their tongues speak deceitfully.r

13 Therefore, I have begun to destroys you,

to ruind you because of your sins.

14 You will eat but not be satisfied;t

your stomach will still be empty.e

You will store up but save nothing,u

because what you savef I will give to the sword.

15 You will plant but not harvest;v

you will press olives but not use the oil,

you will crush grapes but not drink the wine.w

16 You have observed the statutes of Omrix

and all the practices of Ahab’sy house;

you have followed their traditions.z

Therefore I will give you over to ruina

and your people to derision;

you will bear the scornb of the nations.g”

Israel’s Misery

7 What misery is mine!

I am like one who gathers summer fruit

at the gleaning of the vineyard;

there is no cluster of grapes to eat,

none of the early figsc that I crave.

2 The faithful have been swept from the land;d

not onee upright person remains.

Everyone lies in waitf to shed blood;g

they hunt each otherh with nets.i

3 Both hands are skilled in doing evil;j

the ruler demands gifts,

the judge accepts bribes,k

the powerful dictate what they desire—

they all conspire together.

4 The best of them is like a brier,l

the most upright worse than a thornm hedge.

The day God visits you has come,

the day your watchmen sound the alarm.

Now is the time of your confusion.n

5 Do not trust a neighbor;

put no confidence in a friend.o

Even with the woman who lies in your embrace

guard the words of your lips.

6 For a son dishonors his father,

a daughter rises up against her mother,p

a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—

a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.q