Micah 6

The Lord’s Case Against Israel

Listen to what the Lord says:

“Stand up, plead my case before the mountains;^a

let the hills hear what you have to say.

“Hear,^b you mountains, the Lord’s accusation;^c

listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.

For the Lord has a case^d against his people;

he is lodging a charge^e against Israel.

“My people, what have I done to you?

How have I burdened^f you?^g Answer me.

I brought you up out of Egypt^h

and redeemed you from the land of slavery.ⁱ

I sent Moses^j to lead you,

also Aaron^k and Miriam.^l

My people, remember

what Balak^m king of Moab plotted

and what Balaam son of Beor answered.

Remember your journey from Shittimⁿ to Gilgal,^o

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

With what shall I come before^q the Lord

and bow down before the exalted God?

Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,

with calves a year old?^r

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,^s

with ten thousand rivers of oil?^t

Shall I offer my firstborn^u for my transgression,

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

He has shown all you people what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly^w and to love mercy

and to walk humbly^x with your God.^y

Israel’s Guilt and Punishment

Listen! The Lord is calling to the city—

and to fear your name is wisdom—

“Heed the rod^a and the One who appointed it.

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

and the short ephah, which is accursed?^b

Shall I acquit a person with dishonest scales,^c

with a bag of false weights?^d

Her rich people are violent;^e

her inhabitants are liars^f

and their tongues speak deceitfully.^g

Therefore, I have begun to destroy^h you,

to ruin you because of your sins.

You will eat but not be satisfied;ⁱ

your stomach will still be empty.

You will store up but save nothing,^j

because what you save I will give to the sword.

You will plant but not harvest;^k

you will press olives but not use the oil on yourselves,

you will crush grapes but not drink the wine.^l

You have observed the statutes of Omri^m

and all the practices of Ahab’sⁿ house;

you have followed their traditions.^o

Therefore I will give you over to ruin^p

and your people to derision;

you will bear the scorn^q of the nations.”