God Pleads with Israel

1 Hear now what theLordsays:

“Arise, plead your case before the mountains,

And let the hills hear your voice.

2 Hear, O you mountains,theLord’s complaint,

And you strong foundations of the earth;

FortheLordhas a complaint against His people,

And He will contend with Israel.

3 “O My people, whathave I done to you?

And how have Iwearied you?

Testify against Me.

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

I redeemed you from the house of bondage;

And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

5 O My people, remember now

WhatBalak king of Moab counseled,

And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,

From Acacia Grove to Gilgal,

That you may knowthe righteousness of theLord.”

6 With what shall I come before theLord,

Andbow myself before the High God?

Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,

With calves a year old?

7 Will theLordbe pleased with thousands of rams,

Ten thousandrivers of oil?

Shall I give my firstbornformy transgression,

The fruit of my bodyforthe sin of my soul?

8 He hasshown you, O man, whatisgood;

And what does theLordrequire of you

Butto do justly,

To love mercy,

And to walk humbly with your God?

Punishment of Israel’s Injustice

9 TheLord’s voice cries to the city—

Wisdom shall see Your name:

“Hear the rod!

Who has appointed it?

10 Are there yet the treasures of wickedness

In the house of the wicked,

And the short measurethatisan abomination?

11 Shall I count purethosewiththe wicked scales,

And with the bag of deceitful weights?

12 For her rich men are full ofviolence,

Her inhabitants have spoken lies,

Andtheir tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

13 “Therefore I will alsomakeyousick by striking you,

By makingyoudesolate because of your sins.

14 You shall eat, but not be satisfied;

Hungershallbein your midst.

You may carrysomeaway, but shall not savethem;

And what you do rescue I will give over to the sword.

15 “You shallsow, but not reap;

You shall tread the olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil;

Andmakesweet wine, but not drink wine.

16 For the statutes ofOmri arekept;

All the works of Ahab’s housearedone;

And you walk in their counsels,

That I may make you a desolation,

And your inhabitants a hissing.

Therefore you shall bear thereproach of My people.”