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The Lord’s Case

Now hear what the Lord says:
    “Get up; plead your case in front of the mountains;
    let the hills hear your story.
Mountains, listen to the Lord’s legal case.
    Foundations of the earth, listen.
The Lord has a legal case against his people,
    and he will accuse Israel.”

He says, “My people, what did I do to you?
    How did I make you tired of me?
    Tell me.
I brought you from the land of Egypt
    and freed you from slavery;
    I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to you.
My people, remember
    the evil plans of Balak king of Moab
    and what Balaam son of Beor told Balak.
Remember what happened from Acacia to Gilgal
    so that you will know the Lord does what is right!”

You say, “What can I bring with me
    when I come before the Lord,
    when I bow before God on high?
Should I come before him with burnt offerings,
    with year-old calves?
Will the Lord be pleased with a thousand male sheep?
    Will he be pleased with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Should I give my first child for the evil I have done?
    Should I give my very own child for my sin?”
The Lord has told you, human, what is good;
    he has told you what he wants from you:
to do what is right to other people,
    love being kind to others,
    and live humbly, obeying your God.

The voice of the Lord calls to the city,
    and the wise person honors him.
So pay attention to the rod of punishment;
    pay attention to the One who threatens to punish.
10 Are there still in the wicked house
    wicked treasures
    and the cursed false measure?
11 Can I forgive people who cheat others
    with wrong weights and scales?
12 The rich people of the city
    do cruel things.
Its people tell lies;
    they do not tell the truth.
13 As for me, I will make you sick.
    I will attack you, ruining you because of your sins.
14 You will eat, but you won’t become full;
    you will still be hungry and empty.
You will store up, but save nothing,
    and what you store up, the sword will destroy.
15 You will plant,
    but you won’t harvest.
You will step on your olives,
    but you won’t get any oil from them.
You will crush the grapes,
    but you will not drink the new wine.
16 This is because you obey the laws of King Omri
    and do all the things that Ahab’s family does;
    you follow their advice.
So I will let you be destroyed.
    The people in your city will be laughed at,
    and other nations will make fun of you.

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 Shittim(N) 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 olive 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 you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly(W) and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly[a](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(Z) 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?(AA)
11 Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales,(AB)
    with a bag of false weights?(AC)
12 Your rich people are violent;(AD)
    your inhabitants are liars(AE)
    and their tongues speak deceitfully.(AF)
13 Therefore, I have begun to destroy(AG) you,
    to ruin[d] you because of your sins.
14 You will eat but not be satisfied;(AH)
    your stomach will still be empty.[e]
You will store up but save nothing,(AI)
    because what you save[f] I will give to the sword.
15 You will plant but not harvest;(AJ)
    you will press olives but not use the oil,
    you will crush grapes but not drink the wine.(AK)
16 You have observed the statutes of Omri(AL)
    and all the practices of Ahab’s(AM) house;
    you have followed their traditions.(AN)
Therefore I will give you over to ruin(AO)
    and your people to derision;
    you will bear the scorn(AP) of the nations.[g]

Footnotes

  1. Micah 6:8 Or prudently
  2. Micah 6:9 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.
  3. Micah 6:10 An ephah was a dry measure.
  4. Micah 6:13 Or Therefore, I will make you ill and destroy you; / I will ruin
  5. Micah 6:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  6. Micah 6:14 Or You will press toward birth but not give birth, / and what you bring to birth
  7. Micah 6:16 Septuagint; Hebrew scorn due my people