God’s Indictment of His People

1 Hear now what the LORD is saying,
          “Arise, plead your case before the mountains,
          And let the hills hear your voice.

2 “Listen, you mountains, to the indictment of the LORD,
          And you enduring foundations of the earth,
          Because the LORD has a case against His people;
          Even with Israel He will dispute.

3 “My people, what have I done to you,
          And how have I wearied you? Answer Me.

4 “Indeed, I brought you up from the land of Egypt
          And ransomed you from the house of slavery,
          And I sent before you Moses, Aaron and Miriam.

5 “My people, remember now
          What Balak king of Moab counseled
          And what Balaam son of Beor answered him,
          And from Shittim to Gilgal,
          So that you might know the righteous acts of the LORD.”


What God Requires of Man

6 With what shall I come to the LORD
          And bow myself before the God on high?
          Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings,
          With yearling calves?

7 Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams,
          In ten thousand rivers of oil?
          Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts,
          The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
          And what does the LORD require of you
          But to do justice, to love kindness,
          And to walk humbly with your God?

9 The voice of the LORD will call to the city—
          And it is sound wisdom to fear Your name:
          “Hear, O tribe. Who has appointed its time?

10 “Is there yet a man in the wicked house,
          Along with treasures of wickedness
          And a short measure that is cursed?

11 “Can I justify wicked scales
          And a bag of deceptive weights?

12 “For the rich men of the city are full of violence,
          Her residents speak lies,
          And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

13 “So also I will make you sick, striking you down,
          Desolating you because of your sins.

14 “You will eat, but you will not be satisfied,
          And your vileness will be in your midst.
          You will try to remove for safekeeping,
          But you will not preserve anything,
          And what you do preserve I will give to the sword.

15 “You will sow but you will not reap.
          You will tread the olive but will not anoint yourself with oil;
          And the grapes, but you will not drink wine.

16 “The statutes of Omri
          And all the works of the house of Ahab are observed;
          And in their devices you walk.
          Therefore I will give you up for destruction
          And your inhabitants for derision,
          And you will bear the reproach of My people.”