| New Living Translation | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 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. | 1Now listen to what the LORD is saying: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. |
| 2And now, O mountains, listen to the LORD’s complaint! He has a case against his people. He will bring charges against Israel. | 2Listen to the LORD's lawsuit, you mountains and enduring foundations of the earth, because the LORD has a case against His people, and He will argue it against Israel. |
| 3“O my people, what have I done to you? What have I done to make you tired of me? Answer me! | 3My people, what have I done to you, or how have I wearied you? Testify against Me! |
| 4For I brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you. | 4Indeed, I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from that place of slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam ahead of you. |
| 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.” | 5My people, remember what Balak king of Moab proposed, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from the Acacia Grove to Gilgal so that you may acknowledge the LORD's righteous acts. |
| 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? | 6What should I bring before the LORD when I come to bow before God on high? Should I come before Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? |
| 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? | 7Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousand streams of oil? Should I give my firstborn for my transgression, the child of my body for my own sin? |
| 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 | 8Mankind, He has told you what is good and what it is the LORD requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God. |
| 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. | 9The voice of Yahweh calls out to the city (and it is wise to fear Your name):" Pay attention to the rod and the One who ordained it. |
| 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? | 10Are there still the treasures of wickedness and the accursed short measure in the house of the wicked? |
| 11How can I tolerate your merchants who use dishonest scales and weights? | 11Can I excuse wicked scales or bags of deceptive weights? |
| 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. | 12For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; the tongues in their mouths are deceitful." |
| 13“Therefore, I will wound you! I will bring you to ruin for all your sins. | 13As a result, I have begun to strike you severely, bringing desolation because of your sins. |
| 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. | 14You will eat but not be satisfied, for there will be hunger within you. What you acquire, you cannot save, and what you do save, I will give to the sword. |
| 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. | 15You will sow but not reap; you will press olives but not anoint yourself with oil; and you will tread grapes but not drink the wine. |
| 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.” | 16The statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab's house have been observed; you have followed their policies. Therefore, I will make you a desolate place and the city's residents an object of contempt; you will bear the scorn of My people." |
| Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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