The Case against Israel

¹ Hear now what the LORD says:

“Arise, plead your case before the mountains,^*

and let the hills hear your voice.

² Hear, 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!

⁴ For I brought you up from the land of Egypt

and redeemed you from the house of slavery.

I sent Moses before you,

as well as Aaron and Miriam.

⁵ My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled

and what Balaam son of Beor answered.

Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,

so that you may acknowledge the righteousness^* of the LORD.’”

⁶ With what shall I come before the LORD

when I bow before the God on high?

Should I come to Him with burnt offerings,

with year-old calves?

⁷ Would 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?

⁸ He has shown you, O man, what is good.

And what does the LORD require of you

but to act justly, to love mercy,

and to walk humbly with your God?

The Punishment of Israel

⁹ The voice of the LORD calls out to the city

(and it is sound wisdom to fear Your name):

“Heed the rod

and the One who ordained it.^*

¹⁰ Can I forget any longer,

O house of the wicked,^*

the treasures of wickedness

and the short ephah, which is accursed?

¹¹ Can I excuse dishonest scales

or bags of false weights?

¹² For the wealthy of the city

are full of violence,

and its residents speak lies;

their tongues are deceitful in their mouths.

¹³ Therefore I am striking you severely,

to ruin you because of your sins.

¹⁴ You 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.

¹⁵ You will sow but not reap;

you will press olives but not anoint yourselves with oil;^*

you will tread grapes^* but not drink the wine.^*

¹⁶ You have kept the statutes^* of Omri

and 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.”