| Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Hear now what the LORD says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. | 1Listen to what the LORD is saying: “Stand up and state your case against me. Let the mountains and hills be called to witness your complaints. |
| 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: | 2And now, O mountains, listen to the LORD’s complaint! He has a case against his people. He will bring charges against Israel. |
| 3‘My people, what have I done to you? Testify against Me how I have wearied you! | 3“O my people, what have I done to you? What have I done to make you tired of me? Answer me! |
| 4For 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. | 4For I brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you. |
| 5My 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.’ ” | 5Don’t you remember, my people, how King Balak of Moab tried to have you cursed and how Balaam son of Beor blessed you instead? And remember your journey from Acacia Grove to Gilgal, when I, the LORD, did everything I could to teach you about my faithfulness.” |
| 6With 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? | 6What can we bring to the LORD? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling 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? | 7Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? |
| 8He 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? | 8No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Israel’s Guilt and Punishment |
| 9The 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. | 9Fear the LORD if you are wise! His voice calls to everyone in Jerusalem: “The armies of destruction are coming; the LORD is sending them. |
| 10Can I forget any longer, O house of the wicked, the treasures of wickedness and the short ephah, which is accursed? | 10What shall I say about the homes of the wicked filled with treasures gained by cheating? What about the disgusting practice of measuring out grain with dishonest measures? |
| 11Can I excuse dishonest scales or bags of false weights? | 11How can I tolerate your merchants who use dishonest scales and weights? |
| 12For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; their tongues are deceitful in their mouths. | 12The rich among you have become wealthy through extortion and violence. Your citizens are so used to lying that their tongues can no longer tell the truth. |
| 13Therefore I am striking you severely, to ruin you because of your sins. | 13“Therefore, I will wound you! I will bring you to ruin for all 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. | 14You will eat but never have enough. Your hunger pangs and emptiness will remain. And though you try to save your money, it will come to nothing in the end. You will save a little, but I will give it to those who conquer you. |
| 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. | 15You will plant crops but not harvest them. You will press your olives but not get enough oil to anoint yourselves. You will trample the grapes but get no juice to make your wine. |
| 16You 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.” | 16You keep only the laws of evil King Omri; you follow only the example of wicked King Ahab! Therefore, I will make an example of you, bringing you to complete ruin. You will be treated with contempt, mocked by all who see you.” |
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