Micah 6

1Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.footnote a

2Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD’s controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.

3O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.

4For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

5O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.

6Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?footnote b

7Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?footnote c

8He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?footnote d

9The LORD’s voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.footnote e

10Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?footnote ffootnote g

11Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?footnote h

12For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

13Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.

14Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.

15Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.

16For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.footnote ifootnote j

The Case against Israel

1Hear now what the LORD says:“Arise, plead your case before the mountains,and let the hills hear your voice. 2Hear, O mountains, the LORD’s indictment,you enduring foundations of the earth.For the LORD has a case against His people,and He will argue it against Israel:

3‘My people, what have I done to you?Testify against Me how I have wearied you! 4For I brought you up from the land of Egyptand redeemed you from the house of slavery.I sent Moses before you,as well as Aaron and Miriam. 5My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseledand what Balaam son of Beor answered.Remember your journey from Shittimfootnote ato Gilgal,so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’”

6With what shall I come before the LORDwhen I bow before the God on high?Should I come to Him with burnt offerings,with year-old calves? 7Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,with ten thousand rivers of oil?Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression,the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8He has shown you, O man, what is good.And what does the LORD require of youbut to act justly, to love mercy,and to walk humbly with your God?

The Punishment of Israel

9The voice of the LORD calls out to the city(and it is sound wisdom to fear Your name):“Heed the rodand the One who ordained it. 10Can I forget any longer,O house of the wicked,the treasures of wickednessand the short ephah, which is accursed? 11Can I excuse dishonest scalesor bags of false weights? 12For the wealthy of the cityare full of violence,and its residents speak lies;their tongues are deceitful in their mouths.

13Therefore I am striking you severely,to ruin you because of your sins. 14You will eat but not be satisfied,and your hunger will remain with you.What you acquire, you will not preserve;and what you save, I will give to the sword. 15You will sow but not reap;you will press olives but not anoint yourselves with oil;you will tread grapes but not drink the wine. 16You have kept the statutes of Omriand all the practices of Ahab’s house;you have followed their counsel.Therefore I will make you a desolation,and your inhabitants an object of contempt;you will bear the scorn of the nations.footnote b”