Miquéias 6

¹ Listen to what Jehovah said: Arise, plead your case before the mountains. Let the hills hear your voice.

² Hear Jehovah’s indictment you mountains and you enduring foundations of the earth! Jehovah argues a case against his people. He will contend with Israel:

³ »O my people, what have I done to you? How have I grieved you? Respond to me.

⁴ »I brought you out of the land of Egypt. I redeemed you out of the house of bondage. I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

⁵ »O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him. Remember from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of Jehovah.«

⁶ With what shall I come before Jehovah? Shall I bow down before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with year old calves?

⁷ Will Jehovah be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for my sin?

⁸ He told you, O lowly man, what is good and what Jehovah requires of you. You should display justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God!

⁹ The voice of Jehovah calls to the city. The man of wisdom will see respect your name! Hear the rod and who appointed it.

¹⁰ Is there a depository of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and a short measure that is cursed?

¹¹ Can I be pure with wicked scales and with a bag of deceitful stone weights?

¹² The rich men are full of violence! Her inhabitants speak lies. Their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

¹³ »I also struck you with a grievous wound. I made you desolate because of your sins.

¹⁴ »You will eat and not be satisfied. Your stomach will still be empty. You will put away and yet will not save. That which you save I will give to the sword.

¹⁵ »You will sow and not reap. You will tread the olives, but will not be anointed with oil! And you will grow the grapes but you will not drink the wine.

¹⁶ »The statutes of Omri and the works of the house of Ahab are observed. You walk in their counsels. I will make you desolation! The inhabitants will be hissed. You will bear the reproach of my people.«