Micah 6

1 Listen now to the word of the Lord. The Lord said: “Get up and plead your case before the mountains; let the hills hear your voice.

2 Hills, hear the Lord’s case, and valleys, the earth’s foundations! For the Lord has a case against his people, and he will argue with Israel.

3 My people, what have I done to you? How have I grieved you? How have I troubled you? Answer me!

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

5 My people, remember the counsel of Balak king of Moab against you and what Balaam son of Beor answered him, from the Reeds to Gilgal, so that the Lord’s righteousness might be known.”

6 With what should I approach the Lord and lay hold of my God Most High? Should I approach him with whole burnt offerings, with year-old calves?

7 Will the Lord accept thousands of rams or tens of thousands of streams of fat? Should I give my firstborn for ungodliness, the fruit of my body for my soul’s sin?

8 Has it been told to you, human being, what is good? What does the Lord require from you except to do what is right, love mercy, and be ready to walk with the Lord your God?

9 The Lord’s voice will be proclaimed in the city, and he will save those who fear his name. Listen, tribe! Who will order the city?

10 Is there not fire and a lawless person’s house, heaping up lawless treasures and wrongdoing committed with arrogance?

11 Can the lawless person be vindicated with a balance or deceitful weights in a bag?

12 By these they accumulated ungodly wealth. Those who live in the city spoke lies, and their tongue was exalted in their mouth.

13 “So I will begin to strike you; I will wipe you out because of your sins.

14 You will eat but not be satisfied, and darkness will fall on you. He will depart from you, and you will not escape; and whoever does escape will be handed over to the sword.

15 You will sow but not reap. You will press olives but not anoint yourself with oil, and make wine but not drink it. The practices of my people will be wiped out.

16 For you kept Zimri’s rules and practiced all the works of Ahab’s house. You walked in their counsels, so I will hand you over to ruin and the city’s inhabitants to hissing. You will bear the nations’ disgrace.”