Micah 6

The Lord's Case Against Israel

1 Listen to what the Lord says:
“Stand up, plead your case before the mountains;
let the hills hear what you have to say.

2 Hear, O mountains, the Lord's accusation;
listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.
For the Lord has a case against his people;
he is lodging a charge against Israel.

3 “My people, what have I done to you?
How have I burdened you? Answer me.

4 I brought you up out of Egypt
and redeemed you from the land of slavery.
I sent Moses to lead you,
also Aaron and Miriam.

5 My people, remember
what Balak king of Moab counseled
and what Balaam son of Beor answered.
Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.”

6 With what shall I come before the Lord
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?

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

8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Israel's Guilt and Punishment

9 Listen! The Lord is calling to the city—
and to fear your name is wisdom—
“Heed the rod and the One who appointed it.

10 Am I still to forget, O wicked house,
your ill-gotten treasures
and the short ephah, which is accursed?

11 Shall I acquit a man with dishonest scales,
with a bag of false weights?

12 Her rich men are violent;
her people are liars
and their tongues speak deceitfully.

13 Therefore, I have begun to destroy you,
to ruin you because of your sins.

14 You will eat but not be satisfied;
your stomach will still be empty.
You will store up but save nothing,
because what you save I will give to the sword.

15 You will plant but not harvest;
you will press olives but not use the oil on yourselves,
you will crush grapes but not drink the wine.

16 You have observed the statutes of Omri
and all the practices of Ahab's house,
and you have followed their traditions.
Therefore I will give you over to ruin
and your people to derision;
you will bear the scorn of the nations.”

MICAH 6

The [Lord]'s Challenge //to His People

1 The [Lord] said to his people:
Come and present your case
to the hills and mountains.

2 Israel, I am bringing charges
against you—
I call upon the mountains
and the earth's firm foundation
to be my witnesses.

3 My people, have I wronged you
in any way at all?
Please tell me.

4  t I rescued you from Egypt,
where you were slaves.
I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam
to be your leaders.

5  t Don't forget the evil plans
of King Balak of Moab
or what Balaam son of Beort
said to him.
Remember how I, the [Lord],
saved you many times
on your way from Acacia
to Gilgal.t

True Obedience

6 What offering should I bring
when I bow down to worship
the [Lord] God Most High?
Should I try to please himt
by sacrificing
calves a year old?

7 Will thousands of sheep
or rivers of olive oil
make God satisfied with me?
Should I sacrifice to the [Lord]
my first-born child as payment
for my terrible sins?

8 The [Lord] God has told us
what is right
and what he demands:
“See that justice is done,
let mercy be your first concern,
and humbly obey your God.”

Cheating and Violence

9 I am the [Lord],
and you are wise to respect
my power to punish.
So listen to my message
for the city of Jerusalem:t

10 You store up stolen treasures
and use dishonest scales.t

11 But I, the [Lord], will punish you
for cheating with weights
and with measures.

12 You rich people are violent,
and everyone tells lies.

13 Because of your sins,
I will wound you and leave you
ruined and defenseless.

14 You will eat,
but still be hungry;
you will store up goods,
but lose everything—
I, the [Lord], will let it all
be captured in war.

15 You won't harvest what you plant
or use the oil
from your olive trees
or drink the wine
from grapes you grow.

16  t Jerusalem, this will happen
because you followed
the sinful example
of kings Omri and Ahab.t
Now I will destroy you
and your property.
Then the people of every nation
will make fun and insult you.