English Standard Version

New Living Translation

The Indictment of the Lord

Hear what the Lord says:
Arise, plead your case before the mountains,
and let the hills hear your voice.

1

The LORD’s Case against Israel

Listen 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.

2

Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the Lord,
and you enduring foundations of the earth,
for the Lord has an indictment against his people,
and he will contend with Israel.

2

And now, O mountains,
listen to the LORD’s complaint!
He has a case against his people.
He will bring charges against Israel.

3

“O my people, what have I done to you?
How have I wearied you? Answer me!

3

“O my people, what have I done to you?
What have I done to make you tired of me?
Answer me!

4

For I brought you up from the land of Egypt
and redeemed you from the house of slavery,
and I sent before you Moses,
Aaron, and Miriam.

4

For I brought you out of Egypt
and redeemed you from slavery.
I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you.

5

O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised,
and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,
and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.”

5

Don’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 Grovea to Gilgal,
when I, the LORD, did everything I could
to teach you about my faithfulness.”

6

What Does the Lord Require?

“With what shall I come before the Lord,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?

6

What can we bring to the LORD?
Should we bring him burnt offerings?
Should we bow before God Most High
with offerings of yearling calves?

7

Will the Lord be pleased witha thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”

7

Should we offer him thousands of rams
and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Should we sacrifice our firstborn children
to pay for our sins?

8

He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,b
and to walk humbly with your God?

8

No, 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

9

Destruction of the Wicked

The voice of the Lord cries to the city —
and it is sound wisdom to fear your name:
“Hear of the rod and of him who appointed it!c

9

Fear the LORD if you are wise!
His voice calls to everyone in Jerusalem:
“The armies of destruction are coming;
the LORD is sending them.b

10

Can I forget any longer the treasuresd of wickedness in the house of the wicked,
and the scant measure that is accursed?

10

What 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?c

11

Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales
and with a bag of deceitful weights?

11

How can I tolerate your merchants
who use dishonest scales and weights?

12

Youre rich men are full of violence;
your inhabitants speak lies,
and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

12

The 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.

13

Therefore I strike you with a grievous blow,
making you desolate because of your sins.

13

“Therefore, I will wound you!
I will bring you to ruin for all your sins.

14

You shall eat, but not be satisfied,
and there shall be hunger within you;
you shall put away, but not preserve,
and what you preserve I will give to the sword.

14

You 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.

15

You shall sow, but not reap;
you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil;
you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine.

15

You 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.

16

For you have kept the statutes of Omri,f
and all the works of the house of Ahab;
and you have walked in their counsels,
that I may make you a desolation, and yourg inhabitants a hissing;
so you shall bear the scorn of my people.”

16

You 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.”

Parallel

English Standard Version

New Living Translation

Micah 6

Micah 6