• 1. Listen now to what Yahweh says: "Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear what you have to say.
  • 2. Hear, you mountains, Yahweh's controversy, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for Yahweh has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel.
  • 3. My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me!
  • 4. For I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage. I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
  • 5. My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of Yahweh."
  • 6. How shall I come before Yahweh, and bow myself before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
  • 7. Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams? With tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my disobedience? The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
  • 8. He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
  • 9. Yahweh's voice calls to the city, and wisdom sees your name: "Listen to the rod, and he who appointed it.
  • 10. Are there yet treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and a short ephah{An ephah is a measure of volume, and a short ephah is made smaller than a full ephah for the purpose of cheating customers.} that is accursed?
  • 11. Shall I be pure with dishonest scales, and with a bag of deceitful weights?
  • 12. Her rich men are full of violence, her inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their speech.
  • 13. Therefore I also have struck you with a grievous wound. I have made you desolate because of your sins.
  • 14. You shall eat, but not be satisfied. Your humiliation will be in your midst. You will store up, but not save; and that which you save I will give up to the sword.
  • 15. You will sow, but won't reap. You will tread the olives, but won't anoint yourself with oil; and crush grapes, but won't drink the wine.
  • 16. For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab. You walk in their counsels, that I may make you a ruin, and her inhabitants a hissing; And you will bear the reproach of my people."