The LORD’s Indictment against Israel

1Please hear what the LORD says:

“Get up and make your case before the mountains,

and let the hills listen to your voice.

2Listen, you mountains, to the LORD’s argument!

Listen, youa strong foundations of the earth,

because the LORD has a dispute with his people,

and he will set out his case before Israel.

3“My people, what have I done to you,

and how have I offended you?

Answer me!

4For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,

and ransomed you from the house of slavery,

sending Moses, Aaron, and Miriam into your presence.

5“My people, recall how king Balak of Moab deliberated,

and how Beor’s son Balaam counseled him from Shittim to Gilgal,

so that you may know the righteousness of the LORD.”

The Nature of True Righteousness

6How am I to present myself in the LORD’s presence

and bow in the presence of the High God?

Should I present myself with burnt offerings,

with year-old calves?

7Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,

or with endlessb rivers of oil?

Am I to give my firstborn to pay forc my rebellion,

the fruit of my body in exchange ford my soul?

8He has made it clear to you, mortal man, what is good

and what the LORD is requiring from you—

to act with justice,

to treasure the LORD’se gracious love,

and to walk humbly in the company of your God.

A Call to Honest Business Practices

9The voice of the LORD cries out to the city—

wisdom fears your name:

“Heed the rod, and the one who prepared it!

10Are there still wicked treasures in the house of the wicked,

along with deceitful and abominable measuring standards?f

11Will I tolerate those who maintain deceptive standardsg

and who use deceitful weights in their business?h

12Her rich people are filled with violence,

and her inhabitants tell lies—

their tongues speak deceitfully!

13“Therefore I will make you ill when I attack you;

I will bring you to ruin because of your offenses.

14You’ll eat,

but you won’t have enough;

and hunger will be common among you.

You’ll horde things,

but you won’t save them,

and what you preserve

I’ll give over to the sword.

15You’ll plant,

but you won’t reap.

You’ll crush the olive harvest,

but you’ll have no oil to anoint yourself.

You’ll tread out the grapes,

but you’ll never drink wine.

16You keep Omri’si statutes

and observe the customs of the house of Ahab.

Because you live according to their advice,

I’ll make you desolate

and turn yourj inhabitants into an object of scorn.

Therefore you will bear the shame of my people.”