God’s Lawsuit against Judah

1Now listen to what the Lord is saying:

Rise, plead your case before the mountains,

and let the hills hear your complaint.A

2Listen to the Lord’s lawsuit,a

you mountains and enduring foundations of the earth,b

because the Lord has a case against his people,c

and he will argue it against Israel.

3My people,a what have I done to you,b

or how have I wearied you?c

Testify against me!

4Indeed, I brought you upa from the land of Egypt

and redeemed youb from that place of slavery.c

I sent Moses,d Aaron, and Miriame ahead of you.

5My people,

remember what King Balak of Moaba proposed,

what Balaam son of Beor answered him,b

and what happened from the Acacia Grovea c to Gilgald

so that you may acknowledge

the Lord’s righteous acts.e

6What should I bring before the Lorda

when I come to bow before God on high?

Should I come before him with burnt offerings,b

with year-old calves?

7Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of ramsa

or with ten thousand streams of oil?

Should I give my firstborn for my transgression,b

the offspring of my body for my own sin?

8Mankind, he has told each of you what is gooda

and what it is the Lord requires of you:b

to act justly,c

to love faithfulness,d

and to walk humbly with your God.e

Verdict of Judgment

9The voice of the Lord calls out to the cityA

(and it is wise to fear your name):

“Pay attention to the rod

and the one who ordained it.B

10Are there stillA the treasures of wickednessa

and the accursed short measureb

in the house of the wicked?

11Can I excuse wicked scales

or bags of deceptive weights?a

12For the wealthy of the city are full of violence,a

and its residents speak lies;b

the tongues in their mouths are deceitful.c

13“As a result, I have begun to strike you severely,a a

bringing desolation because of your sins.b

14You will eat but not be satisfied,a

for there will be hunger within you.

What you acquire, you cannot save,b

and what you do save,

I will give to the sword.A

15You will sow but not reap;a

you will press olives

but not anoint yourself with oil;

and you will tread grapes

but not drink the wine.b

16The statutes of Omri

and all the practices of Ahab’s house

have been observed;

you have followed their policies.a

Therefore, I will make you a desolate placeb

and the city’sA residents an object of contempt;B c

you will bear the scorn of my people.”C d