Micah 6:1–8

The Lord’s Case Against Israel

6Listen 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 case^p against his people;

he is lodging a charge^q against Israel.

³“My people, what have I done to you?

How have I burdened^r you?^s Answer me.

⁴I brought you up out of Egypt^t

and redeemed you from the land of slavery.^u

I sent Moses^v to lead you,

also Aaron^w and Miriam.^x

⁵My people, remember

what Balak^y king of Moab plotted

and what Balaam son of Beor answered.

Remember your journey from Shittim^z to Gilgal,^a

that you may know the righteous acts^b of the Lord.”

⁶With what shall I come before^c the Lord

and bow down before the exalted God?

Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,

with calves a year old?^d

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

with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?^f

Shall I offer my firstborn^g for my transgression,

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

⁸He 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 humbly^aj with your God.^k